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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FOKCE. 



THE 



Science of Vital Force. 

ITS PLAN, DIVISION OF FUNCTION, 

AND OPERATIVE METHODS IN 

HEALTH AND DISEASE. 



AN INVOLUNTARY AGENCY OF NATURE THAT 
* CAN BE HARNESSED AND UTILIZED. 



A 



BY 

W. R. DUNHAM, M.D. 

AUTHOR OF "HIGHER MEDICAL CULTURE." 



BOSTON: 



I 



DAMRELL AND UPHAM, 

GTJje (Bin Corner ^Bookstore* 
1894. 



i 



• HO 



Copyright, 189$, 
By J. S. Dunham. 



Samtatts 3Press : 

John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U. S. A. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Introduction 7 



I. Statement of the Situation ... 9 
II. The Plan of Operative Vital 
Force. Division of Duties and 

Ultimate Functions 21 

III. Application of Vital Principles 

and Significant Paragraphs . . 34 

IV. Ultimate Vital Properties ... 50 
V. Fundamental Principles in Kela- 

tions with Disease 77 

VI. Disease Germs 108 

VII. Toleration 124 

VIII. Medical Practice 131 

IX. Sensation and Sensibility . . . . 151 

X. Pneumonia 167 

XI. Miscellaneous Paragraphs . . . 180 



INTRODUCTION. 



nr*HE object of this volume is to designate 
-*- and demonstrate the fundamental prin- 
ciples of The Science op Vital Force, — a 
department of natural science that is directly 
applicable to the preservation of health and 
the treatment of disease. It is implied in 
fundamental principles and laws of Nature 
not yet recognized and presented for consid- 
eration, and is a department of science that 
will require a large amount of literature to 
illustrate its practical application to individ- 
ual and national affairs. It also implies a rev- ^/ 
olution of the recognized plan and principles 
of a department that has been erroneously 
presented, — a revolution as significant as 
was effected in the ideal change of the centre 
of the solar system, and the principles in- 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

volved being as capable of a positive demon- 
stration. We allege that medical practice, 
both regular and irregular, is based on imagi- 
nary fundamental principles as unreal as was 
the Ptolemaic system of astronomy, on theo- 
ries that are insufficient for the safe guid- 
ance of treatment, and dangerous in their 
application. 

Stoneham, Mass. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 



STATEMENT OF THE SITUATION. 

Every now and then a man's mind is stretched by a new 
idea, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions. — 
O. W. Holmes. 

TT 7E shall call attention to a department 
* * of natural science not taught in the 
schools and institutions of learning, — a sci- 
ence implied in that agency called " vital 
force," a subject referred to in medical litera- 
ture as being too profound for this age, and 
which is thus relegated to future generations 
for a solution. It is a department awaiting 
the recognition of living outgrowths of actual 
principles in Nature. 

This science is not capable of being veri- 
fied from accepted fundamental principles 



10 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

now recognized, but can be demonstrated in 
the functions of the living human organism. 
The nature and laws of the force of gravita- 
tion have been solved, and are now being 
taught as operative in astronomical science, 
while that agency called " vital force " is re- 
ceiving little or no consideration from any 
department of literature. We shall present 
many nice distinctions for adjustment; and 
the differentiation of the operative signifi- 
cance of the agencies called " mind," " life," 
and " vital force," may not appear distinct at 
first, but will be defined later. We shall, 
however, deal mostly with the operative 
methods and functions of that agency called 
" vital force," as applied to the human organ- 
ism in the matter of health and disease. 

It is difficult at first to recognize that in 
the department of living nature a serious 
mistake has been made relative to the fun- 
damental operative principles, that a different 
plan, wholly unlike what is now taught, ex- 
plains better, and correctly, the situation. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 11 

In illustration of the premises to be con- 
sidered, no better comparison can be made 
than by reference to the condition of the 
science of astronomy in the time of Ptolemy. 
At that time all were familiar with astro- 
nomical phenomena, but the mind had failed 
to grasp the plan making it possible to ex- 
plain how such phenomena were produced. 
Thus they were trying to explain appearances 
from an imaginary basis. Medical theories 
are now projected from similar premises. 
That is, a great variety of the phenomena 
presented by the living human organism are 
alleged to be produced by an active princi- 
ple, not vital, — an agency wholly imaginary. 
The vital force agency, as implied in the ulti- 
mate functions of operative life-processes, is 
a subject confessed in medical literature to 
be outside the realm of comprehension. 
Therefore, the recognition of the science of 
vital force must be implied in the develop- 
ment of new ideas of Nature's methods. 

We are informed in history that the an- 



12 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

cient scholar Pliny, who lived previous to the 
third century a. d., gave credit to Acron as 
being the first to apply philosophical reason, 
in explanation of medicinal relations, to the 
human organism. And to him this genera- 
tion is indebted for that unfortunate inter- 
pretation, which has been perpetuated to our 
day, in the recognition of an " active medical 
principle." We allege, and shall demonstrate, 
that the doctrine of " active medical prop- 
erty" is a misnomer in phraseology, and an 
ideal delusion of serious and great magni- 
tude in its application. 

What is now alleged to be an "active medi- 
cal principle" was formerly called a "medical 
power " — an ideal and imaginary agency, 
which is said to be in association with mate- 
rial medicine, that may operate and act on the 
organs of the living human system. We are 
also required to give credit to the same au- 
thority for the originality of the recognition 
of a different and undefined agency, which 
was presumed to find its way into the human 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 13 

system, and to operate disastrously to the 
well being of the individual ; which disturb- 
ance was called " disease." 

If Acron was correct in his interpreta- 
tions, there is illustrated a singular incident, 
worthy of eulogistic commemoration for all 
time, implied in that keen perception of in- 
tellect which was capable of grasping the 
nature and plan of such relations, which 
have ever remained satisfactory with all later 
generations ; while that less mysteriously 
profound problem of determining the cen- 
tre of the solar system awaited the advent 
of Copernicus more than twelve centuries 
later. 

This imaginary agency — " active medical 
principle" — has been equally as acceptable 
and satisfactory to cultured civilization for 
centuries as was the ancient ideal centre of 
the solar system. Thus there has seemed to 
be no occasion for overhauling the alleged 
plans and methods of Nature that are im- 
plied in such relations, which practically 



14 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

inflict immeasurable and serious inconven- 
ence upon cultured and civilized nations. 

Acron recognized an " active cause of dis- 
ease," possessed of a riotous disposition, and 
also an alleged " medical power," now called 
" active medical property," which was pre- 
sumed to put to rout the former invader, 
restore order, and exercise curative influence. 

The reader of modern medical literature 
of the present day will discover but slight 
modification of fundamental premises, unlike 
those presented for consideration by the an- 
cient mind. The ideal " active cause of dis- 
ease" is still recognized as a disturbing 
agent, associated with some kind of material 
and alleged " disease germs." The princi- 
ple of activity, formerly called "a medical 
power," is now changed to an " active medi- 
cal property ; " at the same time, however, 
the phrase " medical power " is of common 
use in medical literature. Vital force is rec- 
ognized as that agency which executes the 
constructive organic function and structural 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 15 

repairs ; and also as exercising in disease an 
influence called the " efforts of nature." 
And what the vital force is not alleged to do, 
in the name of " efforts of nature," is pre- 
sumed to be done by that reserve force of 
alleged practical utility called the " active 
medical property," which is accepted as ca- 
pable of temporarily operating the functional 
machinery of human life until the vital force 
rallies to the rescue. 

If medical literature means anything, such 
is the true representation of the existing 
situation in the department of alleged medi- 
cal science. 

Notwithstanding that such ideas are sup- 
ported by the doctrines of current medical 
literature, we shall try to illustrate the fact, 
through the Science of Vital Force, that the 
cause of disease is passive, and also that the 
doctrine of an " active medical property " is 
a delusion. The active properties are all 
vital, although an eminent medical writer of 
this generation thus states : " This generation 



16 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

and generations to come will have passed to 
their everlasting rest before a discovery of 
the secret of vital activity is made." This 
discovery is already made, to be illustrated in 
the Science of Vital Force ; and when under- 
stood, which is not a difficult matter, cul- 
tured civilization will recognize that the 
fundamental doctrines of alleged medical 
science are as crude and inapplicable as the 
ancient astronomical doctrine advanced by 
Ptolemy. 

This whole matter is easy of comprehension 
when considered from a correct standpoint. 
No one could comprehend the Copernican 
system of astronomy with Ptolemaic ideas. 
No one can understand the nature of vital 
force while seeking to explain the manifesta- 
tion of living phenomena as being produced 
by some agency, not vital, that was acting 
on the human organism. 

In our efforts to present intelligently the 
nature, laws, and operative methods of vital 
force, we are required to begin with a 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 17 

recognition unlike that which prevails with 
the agency called "the force of gravitation," 
in which department it is not possible to 
recognize more than one method, one ultimate 
function ; while the science of vital force is 
implied in a compound primary function, and 
in four different, equally ultimate methods of 
vital action, — a fact apparently not recog- 
nized by medical writers and scientists. 

In calling attention to this department of 
Nature, we doubtless may be laboring under 
disadvantages similar to those which existed 
when it was sought to make acceptable the 
idea of a different centre of the solar system. 
The already accepted centre was so satisfac- 
tory that it required more skill to eliminate 
the false doctrine than to explain the har- 
mony, utility, and advantage of the natural 
plan implied in a different centre. The the- 
ory and doctrine of " active medical proper- 
ties " has been accepted for more than fifteen 
centuries without a recognized protest con- 
sidered worthy of review ; and like seeing the 



18 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

sun revolve around the earth, both cultured 
and uncultured minds have seen what this 
" active medical property" was doing, pro- 
vided we accept this testimony. We confess 
that it will be difficult in this age of intelli- 
gence to eliminate long cherished ideas, and 
to accept the situation we allege, without the 
presentation of a volume of incontrovertible 
testimony from Nature. 

At first we are confronted with this rational 
inference, that it does not seem credible that 
the analytical mind, particularly of the last 
half century, could have been mistaken in 
the nature of this problem. The same, how- 
ever, was doubtless said of the ideal earth- 
centre of the solar system, after thirteen 
hundred years of acceptance, when Copernicus 
recorded his protest. This science is not 
obscured by its profundity, but it has simply 
been over-looked, existing in a place where 
the human mind has never had occasion to 
make research. It has remained among 
the hidden mysteries of Nature, largely 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE, 19 

because there has been accepted an ideal 
substitute for vital force, — an agency not 
vital, called the " active medical principle." 
Every department of natural science exe- 
cuted by the forces of Nature is presented 
in accordance with a pre-arranged plan ; and 
unless we recognize the correct plan, it is 
impossible to comprehend the operative pro- 
ceedings of that special department. To 
make plain the distinction between the 
accepted plan as now taught, and the plan 
that we are to suggest for the study of this 
department of Nature implied in the Science 
of Vital Force, we would say that the present 
accepted, erroneous, and ideal plan is im- 
plied in three unlike divisions of alleged 
active principles, — the active vital principle, 
the principle implied in the " active cause 
of disease," and the " active medical prop- 
erty ; " whereas the plan that we shall al- 
lege and demonstrate is implied in one 
kind of active principle, — the active vital 



20 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

principle, having four distinct ultimate vital 
properties. 

The difference of plan as an intellectual 
question implies an operative distinction equal 
to the difference between the two alleged 
centres of the solar system. 



II. 



THE PLAN OF OPERATIVE VITAL FORCE. DIVI- 
SION OF DUTIES AND ULTIMATE FUNCTIONS. 

"\ HTAL power is that active principle 
^ which constructs and preserves the 
human organism, executing its mission in 
the universe with as much precision and con- 
formity to law and method as prevails in the 
departments of inorganic science. The inor- 
ganic force called "gravitation" executes 
those changeable phenomena presented in 
astronomical science, while the vital force 
executes those phenomena of natural science 
implied in conditions of health and disease, 
and operative proceedings which succeed 
from medicinal relations. 

The study of the human system as now 
taught in the schools has its beginning with 
physiological functions and anatomical struc- 



22 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

tures; while with the plan implied in the 
Science of Vital Force it is required that we 
begin further back, — that we make research, 
and determine what divisions there may be 
of ultimate vital functions that enable such 
physiological functions and anatomical struc- 
tures to be thus executed and arranged. In 
other words, we must determine what con- 
stitute the essential and primary divisions of 
life functions, that as a whole make possible 
the execution of such proceedings. To say 
that such are organic human life functions, 
undefined, is not sufficient. It is necessary 
to grasp in idea certain great and underlying 
primal principles of organic human life, that 
have beginning and existence even before 
physiological and anatomical functions can 
be made operative. 

We are about to start on an important 
journey of ideal research, — a research that 
may reward us with a correct recognition of 
the nature of vital force. Therefore it is 
necessary to determine something that vital 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 23 

force does, that we can call by a name, — 
some isolated ultimate function that can be 
defined and demonstrated beyond all contro- 
versy. And whatever such function (or func- 
tions) may be, it will be that something 
which is done, which constitutes its nature. 
We are at the most critical stage of this ideal 
beginning; and we must begin right, and 
make sure that none who come after us 
can recognize a function and method of this 
agency which we fail to discover; also that 
what we define will be so susceptible of 
demonstration that no contradiction can be 
supported. We cannot recognize its nature 
in a single ultimate function that can be 
expressed as a unit; but we are required to 
interpret its nature as existing in four units, 
four beginnings, four different functions, — 
each unlike the other, and no part of the 
other; each an ultimate function that can be 
defined, verified, and demonstrated in unmis- 
takable phenomena presented by the living 
human organism, constituting in its four 



24 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

divisions and unlike functions of vital prop- 
erties the complete total and aggregate of 
vital methods, from which basis all the sub- 
sequent operations of life, in health and 
disease, are dependent. And we make use 
of the following names and terms as being 
representative of such four ultimate vital 
properties: Sensibility, Instinct, Sensation, 
and Contractility. 

We shall but briefly outline the function 
and distinction of each vital property in 
this place, but later will take up each divi- 
sion with a more extended illustration. 

Sensibility. This term is used to represent 
certain life abilities comprised in all the 
variety of brain functions and conscious 
intelligence. This vital property is implied 
in the ability to command and execute volun- 
tary acts, having perceptive abilities that 
may recognize things, conditions, and rela- 
tions both in contact with the organism and 
external and beyond contact ; that is, at all 
distances. It is the mind property, — that 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 25 

property of life which superintends all the 
voluntary acts. 

Instinct. This is a vital property wholly 
unlike sensibility. It presides over the in- 
voluntary acts, superintending the construc- 
tion of the organic body. Sensibility volun- 
tarily supplies the material for constructive 
purpose, while instinct superintends the use 
and application of such material in the 
process of organic growth. The instinct 
superintends not only the disposition to be 
made of nutritive material, but the method 
of eliminating all foreign material that has 
been introduced into the human organism by 
accident or design. Instinct, as an ultimate 
vital property, has no other function except 
to superintend conditions, and to dispose of 
material having contact relations with the 
living organism. Sensibility is the com- 
mander-in-chief of the voluntary acts, while 
instinct is commander-in-chief of all invol- 
untary acts manifested by the living organism. 
Instinct is a vital property pervading all the 



26 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

living tissues, while sensibility is a vital 
property not pervading all the tissues. 

Sensation. This is a vital property whose 
function is wholly unlike those already men- 
tioned. It is a vital property expressed by 
certain nerves, whose function is implied in 
conveying information of existing conditions 
and the presence of material contacts both 
to sensibility and to instinct. That is, com- 
paratively speaking, sensation is a kind of 
telegraph that makes known to the other vital 
properties, or enables such other vital proper- 
ties to hold practical relations with, existing 
conditions and material contact relations, — 
relations that may require attention from one 
or both of those vital properties before 
mentioned. 

The means through which this vital prop- 
erty communicates such facts are implied in 
an experience of varied sensations called 
" feelings," which are produced by contacts, 
and which are implied in all kinds of sensa- 
tions, from exquisite sensational pleasures to 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 27 

excruciating pain. The language of this vital 
property is the language of experienced sen- 
sation implied in all kinds of sensational feel- 
ing. It has no other function, it can execute 
no other duty. It was created for no other 
purpose than to experience feeling from con-' 
tact. And the silent language which it speaks 
thus communicates with sensibility and in- 
stinct, each being made aware of duties re- 
quiring the attention of both. The term 
"irritability" may represent either a disa- 
greeable sensibility or a disagreeable sensa- 
tion, but does not imply a different vital 
property. Some sensations are known and 
relate only to the consciousness, requiring 
attention solely from the function of sensi- 
bibity. Other sensations have practical rela- 
tions only with the function of instinct, and 
are unknown by the sensibility as having 
existence. 

In this distinction of the relations of sensa- 
tion are implied important facts to be recog- 
nized later in association with the causes of 



28 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

disease. Sensibility executes its function at 
all distances, while sensation executes func- 
tion only at insensible distances developed by 
causes existing in immediate contact. In 
medical literature the terms " sensibility " 
and " sensation " are used as synonyms in 
their application to the affairs of the human 
organism, obscuring all idea of difference be- 
tween the functions of the two unlike vital 
properties, — the term "sensation" being fre- 
quently used for a brain function, while the 
term " sensibility " is made applicable to the 
representation of existing feelings of the 
lower extremities ; thus making it as impos- 
sible to solve and comprehend many of the 
problems of human life affairs as it would 
be to solve mathematical problems without 
distinction of idea between the application 
of division and multiplication. 

Contractility. This is a vital property 
manifested by the contraction and alternate 
relaxation of muscular fibre. 

This property may be considered as an in- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 29 

visible instrument of motion in the hands of 
both the instinct and sensibility. Sensation 
may have relation to certain facts that re- 
quire the attention of instinct applied to the 
function of involuntary action. At other 
times, the sensation may relate to the sensi- 
bility in such way as to require that some 
duty shall be executed by a voluntary act. 
Thus contractility is a vital property to be 
made operative by both the instinct and 
the sensibility. In other words, sensibility 
presides over voluntary contractility, while 
instinct presides over involuntary contrac- 
tility. Contractility is the animal strength 
property. Abstract thought implies the di- 
rect exercise of the vital property of sensi- 
bility. The mind does not effect voluntary 
muscular motion directly, but employs the 
vital property of contractility to execute 
this function. The same exercise of contrac- 
tility can be made operative, and thus used 
by instinct to exercise muscular motion even 
after decapitation, by applying the galvanic 
current to cause irritable sensation. 



30 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

We trust the reader will recognize the 
distinction implied between the direct and the 
indirect operation of a vital property. The 
science of vital force is implied in a great 
multiplicity of such distinctions. 

We have thus outlined briefly the function 
of each of the ultimate vital properties and 
the unlike duties they perform, which in the 
aggregate are operative in producing all the 
visible phenomena presented by the living 
human organism. We trust the reader will 
be able to determine that one vital property 
is not the other, and that the problems of 
organic human life have their solution pred- 
icated on the nature and executive functions 
of the co-operative vital properties. 

It is apparent that each of the ultimate 
vital properties executes unlike functions, 
while it requires the exercise of all those vital 
properties to execute physiological function 
and to construct anatomical product. Thus 
we trust that the premises are made clear; 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 31 

that we begin with a study of life functions, 
which antedate physiological functions. 

Reader, have you any exceptions to file 
relative to the number of ultimate vital prop- 
erties, more or less ; and whether or not such 
functions as mentioned are entitled to be con- 
sidered as ultimate vital properties ? Can 
you recognize in the human organism any 
vital function not entitled to be included in 
the four properties described ? Do you think 
Nature does, or does not, supply and present 
the existence of ultimate functions that can 
be verified, in order to demonstrate the 
correctness of the working plan as here 
presented ? 

To understand the nature of disease, — 
not its appearance, but how it is produced, 
— and how to prevent and how to cure, and 
how to take advantage of fleeting opportuni- 
ties ; and also to understand the relation of 
materia medica to the human system, in addi- 
tion to the knowledge of its relational effects, 
it is essential to become familiar with the 



32 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

operative and co-operative functions of the 
four vital properties in all the affairs of 
human life. And while it was necessary to 
eliminate the ideal earth-centre of the solar 
system to enable the science of astronomy to 
be developed, it will be equally important 
and imperative to eliminate the doctrine of 
ideal " active medical property," — that ideal 
and imaginary agency which is presumed to 
act and exercise an influence with the invol- 
untary department of human life affairs. 

This doctrine and idea of " active medical 
property" has been kept alive and perpetu- 
ated by a conventional acceptance based on 
appearances, which is wholly in violation of 
the nature of things, and as unreal of cor- 
rect representation as the alleged earth-centre, 
and having no more scientific meaning than 
a telegraphic cypher code. 

It ic a singular fact that in the study of 
this subject we are confronted with a very 
peculiar paradox. Notwithstanding this doc- 
trine of " active medical property " consti- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 33 

tutes a serious obstacle in the pathway of a 
recognized science of vital force, it is not 
possible to eliminate such delusion until a 
comprehension and recognized demonstration 
can be developed of the nature and functions 
of the ultimate properties of vital force, and 
of their co-operative methods of procedure 
in the affairs of health and disease. A 
knowledge of the special function of each of 
the ultimate vital properties, and of their co- 
operative relations, contributes to a compre- 
hension of the nature of every variety of 
disease, its proper treatment and the modus 
operandi of medicine. Such knowledge con- 
tributes an advantage equal to that which the 
knowledge of the first four principles of 
arithmetic contributes to the solution of prob- 
lems in higher mathematics, and is no less 
indispensable. 



III. 

APPLICATION OF VITAL PRINCIPLES AND 
SIGNIFICANT PARAGRAPHS. 

TT 7E shall call attention to the applica- 
tion of separate vital properties in 
execution of physiological functions, only 
sufficient to make illustration of simple 
problems that may lead to the elucidation of 
the more complex. 

The vital property, sensibility, makes use 
of the voluntary, contractility, to introduce 
within the stomach the nutritive material 
necessary for organic constructive purposes. 
After this material has been thus introduced, 
the vital property, sensation, enables the 
fact of such presence to be known to the 
instinct, which in its turn superintends and 
makes useful the involuntary, contractility, 
in connection with physical principles, to 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 35 

inaugurate physiological proceedings, — that 
is, to transform said nutritive material into 
part and parcel of the tissues of the living 
human organism. 

It is not necessary to trace such applica- 
tion in detail as applied to physiological 
functions, but sufficient only to connect the 
underlying principles implied in such func- 
tions, with the execution of physiological 
proceedings. Provided the sensibility has 
by accident introduced within the stomach 
some kind of foreign material (material not 
of possible use for constructive purpose ; for 
instance, lobelia), the vital property, sensa- 
tion, in connection with instinct, discovers 
such fact, and employs the involuntary, 
contractility, to execute the act of emesis, — 
thus illustrating that the vital property, 
instinct, has the ability to correct some of 
the errors of sensibility; and also that in- 
stinct presides over all material that has 
found its way into the human organism, 
using nutritive and eliminating foreign. 



86 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

All material of every kind, when introduced 
within the human organism, is subject to 
such disposal by the involuntary vital proper- 
ties as its true relation requires. 

Instinct, without the aid of sensibility or 
will, directs many acts of self-preservation 
and defence. Such proceedings are said to 
be something that "Nature has done," in 
distinction to what is presumed, in accord- 
ance with the old plan, that some other 
agency might do. Vital force — in other 
words Nature — does it all. Material does 
not act, and is without active principles; 
the vital principle does the acting. And it 
may act spontaneously for self-defence, or 
from invitation, by supplied medicinal rela- 
tion. When invited by medicine, it is 
Nature — the active vital principle — which 
acts. Medicinal contact causes a sensation, 
to which instinct responds with an involun- 
tary act. The vital property, instinct, super- 
intends all the involuntary doing; and no 
other agency exercises operative relations 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 37 

with the affairs of organic life in health and 
disease. 

The functions of sensibility and instinct 
may be independent of each other in certain 
affairs, but not in all affairs. Sensibility 
must furnish instinct with the material for 
constructive purposes; and when properly 
constructed, those premises are made to 
exist, — which make it possible to exercise 
the function of sensibility. 

With the conditions of disease, the in- 
stinct directly superintends and directs the 
activities of disturbance, although in many 
cases sensibility can to a limited degree indi- 
rectly guide, with more or less moderation, 
many of those actions. The use of medicine 
in its practical relation affords the supply of 
a contact-cause for moderating and divert- 
ing the actions of the instinctive vital agency, 
— thus enabling us to effect the guidance of 
those actions which instinct superintends, 
and vital force operates. Vital force is the 
active agent that operates the functions of the 



38 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

vital properties, while those vital properties 
superintend the voluntary and involuntary 
complex operations of human life. We can- 
not, however, recognize vital force as an 
agency independent of those functions. 

Medicine has no " active principles " of 
operative influence within itself ; but its pres- 
ence may be a cause which may occasion the 
involuntary active vital principle to act 
differently. Thus we may indirectly cause, 
to a limited extent, such involuntary vital 
activity as is thought best to have executed 
under the existing circumstances. This 
theory may be illustrated in making use of 
ipecacuanha to cause a sensation of nausea, 
which sensation appeals to instinct, to make 
operative that involuntary contractility which 
ejects the contents of the stomach. One 
simple problem understood is as instructive 
as a thousand similar problems. 

A very important practical idea to be kept 
in view, in guiding the active vital principle, 
like the guiding of an unruly horse, is to 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 39 

begin to guide early, before the animal be- 
comes violent and unmanageable. Have in 
mind the nature and methods of the operative 
vital principle, and thus anticipate results, 
and seek to out-general those dangerous 
instinctive actions by an early guiding. 
There may be as great display of skill in 
preventing severe sickness as there is in 
curing severe sickness, and the risk for the 
patient is much less. Such practice, how- 
ever, is not always appreciated; and of the 
physician employing it this may very likely 
be said : " I hardly know how much skill Dr. 
Blank has really got. He does n't seem to 
have so many very sick patients ; and I don't 
know how he would succeed with the more 
severe ailments. " 

It is true that while instinct presides 
directly over all involuntary acts, sensibility 
may to a great degree preside indirectly over 
the functions of instinct. 

Before proceeding further, it is important 
to recognize the distinction between physio- 



40 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

logical and pathological vital acts, not alone 
in appearance, but in principle. In other 
words, What constitutes physiological ac- 
tion ? This question seems simple enough 
at first, but it will be found that much confu- 
sion prevails in the department to which it 
applies. 

We shall define physiological action to be 
the action of the involuntary active vital 
principle acting in relation to nutritive mate- 
rial for organic constructive purpose, and 
for the elimination of normal waste and 
worn-out tissues. We shall define patholo- 
gical action to be vital action acting in rela- 
tion to surplus nutritive material not of 
possible use at the time, and to foreign 
material. 

Physiological action and pathological ac- 
tion are both made operative by the active 
vital property, instinct, exercised for unlike 
purposes. There is a dividing line of fact 
distinction, and there should be a dividing 
line in ideal distinction; and such distinc- 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 41 

tion should be recognized as among the 
primary principles which may enable us to 
solve more complex problems. 

In accordance with the other plan, — the 
accepted plan, on which theories are based, 
— it is recorded in current and approved 
medical literature that agencies not vital 
may execute, and " act physiologically " as 
well as pathologically. Thus there is a great 
distinction between the fundamental premises 
of the two alleged plans for the development 
of a medical education. 

All readers of medical journals are fre- 
quently informed that "Dr. Blank has dis- 
covered a new isomeric compound, of which 
it seems that the differently placed atomic 
radicals may account for the creation of 
that new active principle which enables such 
chemical compound to act physiologically." 
This is not a stray isolated paragraph ; such 
paragraphs are abundant; and such "dis- 
coveries " have been more frequent of late 
years, as every reputable medical journal 
will bear witness. 



42 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

Now, this is a curious state of ideal 
affairs, although it is alleged science, that 
human dexterity in the chemical laboratory- 
may be able to produce inorganic compounds 
" creating " active principles which have the 
power to transform nutritive material into 
living human tissues. The intelligent phy- 
sician has said in reply with much empha- 
sis: "No one entertains any such idea." 
While such denial is true, no doubt, it may 
be very difficult sometimes to determine what 
the idea really is that finds expression in 
such language. Provided, however, that 
the accepted plan and theory of alleged med- 
ical science is correct, such an idea is 
rational, not requiring denial ; and the pro- 
fession should continue to insist upon the 
doctrine that chemical combinations may 
create "active principles" that have the 
ability to transform nutritive material into 
living tissues. The accepted plan and theory 
of medical science, as now taught, implies 
that agencies not vital may act physiologi- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 43 

callj T as well as pathologically and medici- 
nally. In fact, the ideal utility of the med- 
ical department is founded on the presump- 
tion that it is possible to supply an " active 
principle " and power, not vital, that may 
temporarily act in substitution of the vital 
power. Notwithstanding that while this 
accepted theory has a stronger hold on the 
imagination than the ancient ideal earth- 
centre of a former period, and against which 
the dignity of culture has ever enjoined 
silence, its supporters have little or no pride 
in its intellectuality. They do not like to 
talk about it as a principle, but laud its 
operative effects. It prevents a mental 
vacuum, however, and subserves the interests 
of business as a temporary bridge for the 
freighting over of unintelligible ideas, con- 
stituting the only idea on record of the rela- 
tion of medicine to the living human 
organism. 

The medical profession does not take 
kindly to new theories in substitute for old. 



44 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

They think they need more practical facts, 
not theories. Such is not true. It is a 
theory that can be demonstrated, that will 
contribute most to the advancement of med- 
ical science even practically. What is 
needed at the present time is a theory that 
will afford a correct idea of the nature of 
every form of disease, and how produced, — 
the nature and law of the operating active 
vital principle, which is ever present in each 
case and at all stages of the disease ; also a 
correct idea and comprehension of the rela- 
tion of medicine to the human organism. 
Neither of these departments at the present 
time are even claimed in medical literature 
to be within the grasp of comprehension. 
Correct theory holds the same relation to a 
scientific medical practice that the mariner's 
compass holds to the ship's sailing master: 
it is a guide for the management of the 
craft. And while the medical profession 
abjure the value of theory, and call for 
facts, they are perpetuating a culture of the 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 45 

most absurd and dangerous theory that ever 
wrought misery and destruction to a civilized 
people. 

The fallacious medical theory of profes- 
sional adoption, and the contagious low ideal 
of medical science which pervades the non- 
professional mind, enable medicine merchants 
quickly to become millionnaires at the ex- 
pense of ignorance and unimproved invalid- 
ism, and allow ignorance to compete with 
intelligence in the treatment of the sick, 
being responsible also for charlatanry and 
the medical robberies in this age of civiliza- 
tion. Intelligence does not count for much 
with many sick people. It is the wonderful 
curative medical agency of discovery which 
does the business, and which is entitled to 
the highest consideration. Thus it is of 
minor importance from whose hands it may 
be supplied. 

It is claimed in medical literature that the 
" active medical principle " in certain doses 
will act medicinally, while a larger dose will 



46 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

act pathologically. It will be illustrated later 
that the action implied in the modus operandi 
of medicines and the alleged action of poisons 
are but different degrees in violence of patho- 
logical vital action. There is no medical 
scientist who can define the difference between 
a medical action and a pathological vital 
action ; nor the difference between patho- 
logical vital action and the action called 
disease. 

In the study of the science of numbers, we 
first learn the numerals, multiplication table, 
and the first four operative principles in 
mathematics, before attempting the solution 
of higher and more profound problems. It is 
similar with the study of the vital agency: 
primary premises must engage primary atten- 
tion. Unless one becomes familiar with the 
operative relations of the four ultimate vital 
properties, and recognizes that such ideal is 
verified in the affairs of the human organism, 
it will be impossible to recognize and escape 
from that calamitous infliction of inheritance 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 47 

thrust upon civilization in the name of an 
u active medical principle." The Ptolemaic 
theory of astronomy prevailed for thirteen 
hundred years without a record of protest. 
The doctrine of an "active medical principle," 
an alleged agency not vital, has been accepted 
since the days of Acron, dating back to near 
the beginning of the Christian era, and is 
equally as fallacious. 

Medical literature constitutes a vast store- 
house of valuable and practical facts, but 
confesses ignorance of the nature, method, 
and laws of the vital force which creates 
such facts, — alleging that some other agency, 
not vital, is concerned in their production. 
It alleges also that it is u impossible in the 
present state of science to come to any posi- 
tive conclusion in regard to the nature of the 
vital force." But there is no other nature to 
vital force except what is implied in the func- 
tions of the separate ultimate vital proper- 
ties and their co-operative relations. What 
they do is their nature. It is impossible to 



48 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

go behind each represented special vital 
property, and comprehend any division or 
factor of previous existence from which such 
special alleged ultimate vital property might 
grow. We must be content, for the present 
at least, to begin with the nature of such 
functions ; and just what such functions 
execute, constitutes its nature. Physiologi- 
cal action is health-producing action ; and 
pathological action is disease-producing action. 
Disease and pathological vital action represent 
a similar disturbance in its essential nature. 
Functional disease is pathological vital action ; 
while organic disease is a construction devel- 
oped by pathological vital action. 

Nature's methods have always been slow 
of recognition, constituting a department of 
inquiry that is liable to experience erroneous 
pre-conceived ideas of the situation, — a situ- 
ation more difficult to overcome, many times, 
than a demonstration of the reality. The pro- 
jector of the correct ideal centre of the solar 
system had nothing to fear from intellectual 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 49 

influences ; it was the illiteracy of the unscien- 
tific mind that developed the unpleasant 
surroundings. Every department of Nature 
is presented in accordance with some divine 
plan; and we allege that the fundamental 
principles of the Science of Vital Force 
exist in the functions of the four ultimate 
vital properties, which must be recognized 
and verified in support of the elucidation of 
the more complex problems of animated 
human life. 



IV. 

ULTIMATE VITAL PROPERTIES. 

TT is not our purpose to present an exhaus- 
tive treatise of each department, but a 
more extended mention than was presented in 
a previous chapter. We shall, however, 
endeavor to illustrate each division suffi- 
ciently to establish a recognition that may 
be confirmed by affidavits of Nature's 
testimony. 

It may be asked whether it is reasonable to 
anticipate that the theory and science of vital 
force will ever be adopted and become prac- 
tical ? In reply we can only say that the new 
plan and science of astronomy was adopted 
after several generations of protest; and it is 
as reasonable to anticipate that all correct 
theories of natural science will be adopted 
when the human mind outgrows its super- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 51 

stitions of ancient origin, and gives reason 
a chance to develop. There are some things 
in Nature very difficult to ignore : a person 
may attempt to ignore the fact that he ever 
had a parent; but such doctrine would be 
attended with no less difficulty than the 
effort to ignore the science and practical 
utility of the vital agency. Like mathe- 
matics, this science is eminently practical 
when understood, and indispensable in aid of 
a life-saving treatment of disease, and is 
certainly of some satisfaction as an intel- 
lectual accomplishment. 

Sensibility. This vital property includes 
all and every department of intelligence; 
and in calling attention to this property of 
human life operations, we shall divide the 
subject into two grand divisions, — with one 
of which all readers are familiar, while the 
other remains more or less obscure, with 
here and there a recognized out-cropping. 
And while each of the two grand divisions 
belongs to the department of intelligence, 



52 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

they seem to emanate from unlike condi- 
tions. 

Ordinary methods of expressing intelli- 
gence will be considered as a supraliminal 
consciousness ; while the phrase " subliminal 
consciousness " is recognized as most appro- 
priate in representation of that more obscure 
function of mind property and intellectual 
ability. 

The supraliminal consciousness — above 
the horizon, and within the limit of recogni- 
tion — constitutes the ordinary voluntary 
ability of mental function. It is a property 
or function of mental ability, which no one 
individual mind can measure, and of greater 
dimensions than its own circumference; 
while the boundaries of this function will 
ever remain undetermined. Not only has 
this life property the ability to exercise its 
function in relation to all the external affairs 
of the universe ; but it may operate directly 
the ultimate vital property, contractility, 
and indirectly guide, to a limited degree, the 
vital property, instinct. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 53 

There is implied in this vital property, 
sensibility, an ability to originate ideas and 
to experience emotions of grief, joy, hope, 
reverence, and to exercise reason and develop 
a comprehension of those operative principles 
of Nature which give variety to the visible 
universe. The special application we are to 
make of this function and division, as appli- 
cable to our subject, will be largely to illus- 
trate its existence in distinction from other 
ultimate vital properties, and its co-operation 
in association with other life properties. 
Sleep is implied in a complete temporary sus- 
pension of the active property, sensibility, 
— a condition from which we may be awak- 
ened in various ways, and frequently by the 
vital property of the individual sensation. 

In adopting a name for the obscure division 
of this mind property, the most advanced 
thinkers have coined the phrase "sublim- 
inal consciousness," as best expressive of an 
intelligence manifested unlike the ordinary 
consciousness, — an intelligence uprising, as 



54 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

we might say, from a submerged strata of 
individual personality. And it has been 
asked, "Is there some pattern in the very 
fabric of our nature which begins to show 
when we scratch the glaze off the stuff ? " It 
may be impossible to define where supralim- 
inal consciousness leaves off, and subliminal 
intelligence begins; but such, at least, is 
not our purpose. We only desire to call 
attention to this department in order to 
illustrate that there is an obscure feature of 
human intellectual personality of continued 
increasing complexity, — a kind of intelli- 
gence emanating from our obscure selves, of 
mysterious operation, not easy of comprehen- 
sion, and for purposes not wholly recognized. 
We can no better illustrate this depart- 
ment than by mentioning some of the 
operations thus executed. What is called 
" automatic writing " consists of a written 
intelligence from some source, of whose 
nature and purport the writer's conscious 
intelligence may have no knowledge, and 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 55 

which is sometimes called " trance writing. " 
The operation implied in a genuine " trance " 
is an illustration of the exercise of a faculty 
of subliminal consciousness. This singular 
ability may be exercised in the dark in such 
feats as landscape and portrait painting. 

This sub-state called "subliminal con- 
sciousness " belongs to and is a part of the 
nature of every individual, existing to a more 
or less degree; and it is capable of being 
brought to the surface by a system of culti- 
vation. It is not a consciousness which has 
been acquired through the culture of supra- 
liminal abilities, but a kind of innate con- 
sciousness which may acquire intelligence by 
an entirely different method, — a conscious- 
ness which may possess wonderful faculties 
even in persons whose ordinary intelligence 
may be mediocre and even below par, illus- 
trated frequently in mathematical and musi- 
cal "freaks," so called. It is not unreason- 
able to suppose that much of the most bril- 
liant genius of historic mention may have 



xS 



56 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

been found in persons capable of drawing on 
this quality of highly endowed natural ability. 
For this subliminal consciousness, with some 
individuals, has the ability of silent commu- 
nication. In other words, the subliminal 
consciousness of A may learn of the sublim- 
inal consciousness of B what might be known 
to B by his supraliminal consciousness. 
Thus A may learn the thoughts and facts 
known only to B, — which is often accom- 
plished in test proceedings, and is called 
" telepathy." The supraliminal mind may 
imagine itself, and really be, on any part of 
the globe, while the subliminal may have 
even a greater ability : it may describe accu- 
rately the things seen ; it may enter the resi- 
dence of persons miles away, and describe 
all there is in the room as correctly, in many 
instances, as an individual presence might 
accomplish. Such feats are called " clairvoy- 
ance ; " and clairvoyance consists in a tempo- 
rary suspension of the supraliminal mind, 
and the exercise of the subliminal abilities. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 57 

Hypnotism consists in a temporary suspen- 
sion of the supraliminal faculties of A, while 
the supraliminal consciousness of B becomes 
operative with both the thoughts and volun- 
tary mechanism of A ; and when complete, 
the voluntary mind of B, with a good subject, 
may cause hypnotic A to speak the thoughts 
of B, while A is not conscious of thus doing. 

But how is this done ? The explanation, 
we fear, would be as difficult as to explain 
how we think. 

In the exercise of the subliminal faculties 
it is possible that A may speak or write a 
foreign language wholly unknown to A in 
his normal condition, it being the native 
language of B. Thus A may know through 
the subliminal consciousness of B the lan- 
guage which B speaks, and may write a 
message in that language relative to which 
B has knowledge, while A may have no 
knowledge of the language or of the incident 
mentioned in the message. When a child 
or an untutored individual goes into a trance, 



58 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

uses the subliminal faculties, and writes in a 
language unknown to his normal conscious- 
ness, the inference is often accepted that the 
"spirit" of some distinguished dead person 
is using this particular organism to commu- 
nicate with the living. Such incidents, how- 
ever, are telepathic operations, constituting 
a subliminal exchange of intelligence. The 
child's subliminal consciousness is in tele- 
pathic communication with the same faculty 
of one who speaks such language. 

No well-informed person will deny the 
existence of the alleged subliminal conscious- 
ness. Neither is it intellectually prudent 
to circumscribe the limits and abilities of 
such division of intellectual function in liv- 
ing human individuality. That agency 
which has been recognized and given the 
name of "psychic force" is a factor of the 
subliminal consciousness. This comparative 
recent discovery of an agency, frequently 
presented unconsciously through the living 
human organism, is receiving much attention 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 59 

from the most advanced minds in civilized 
countries ; and to mention the many singular 
and varied presentations of this agency would 
require more space than we can give to this 
interesting department. 

It may not, however, be considered foreign 
to our subject to state that a large proportion 
of alleged departed "spirit manifestations" 
are implied in phenomena presented by the 
subliminal consciousness of living individ- 
uals. And while it may be true that de- 
parted "spirit communication" is possible, 
we can only say that such kind of fact trans- 
cends all our experience, knowledge, and 
comprehension. We are, however, not capa- 
ble of measuring what may have been revealed 
to others in addition to the limits of the liv- 
ing subliminal function. 

Instinct. The official function of this vital 
property consists in presiding over all mate- 
rial that is found within the jurisdiction of 
the human organism, implied in the trans- 
formation and arrangement of nutritive 



60 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

material into assimilated living tissues, 
and the methods adopted in the elimination 
of waste and foreign material. Both physio- 
logical and pathological proceedings are 
directed by this vital property, and executed 
through the joint exercise of this function in 
association with other vital properties. 

Sensibility superintends the voluntary acts, 
while instinct superintends the involuntary. 
Each department employs other vital prop- 
erties to aid in the execution of its own 
official duties. 

Instinct as an isolated function is difficult 
to illustrate except in general outline, and 
can best be illustrated in association with 
other functions. It is to be recognized, how- 
ever, that instinct is not intelligence; that 
while it may direct many pathological vital 
acts conducive to the best interest of the 
human organism, it may also do the oppo- 
site. It may direct the execution of acts 
seriously destructive, which require to be 
watched and guided. Thus while instinct 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 61 

may correct many errors committed by sen- 
sibility, at the same time sensibility must 
frequently correct and modify the patholo- 
gical acts operated by this vital property. 
It may be said that sensibility is a vital 
property associated alone with the brain, 
while instinct pervades the whole organism, 
having its business office associated with 
nerve ganglions. Instinct may be recognized 
as more prominent in early life than sensi- 
bility, and die later. 

It will be noticed that we have given a 
different interpretation to the function of 
instinct than is found to prevail in other 
departments of literature. Nearly all writ- 
ers and speakers, in illustrating the function 
of animal instinct, will refer to the acts of 
the beaver in building his dam as the most 
typical and generic act representing its appli- 
cation. The question may arise, whether 
in its true import, as a representative func- 
tion of organic nature, instinct can be made 
to do duty in such dual and unlike applica- 



62 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

tion as alleged; that is, as being both repre- 
sentative of an involuntary vital property, 
and also a quality of limited voluntary abil- 
ity ? When one refers to the lexicons to 
determine the function of instinct, one will 
find both voluntary and involuntary acts 
defined as instinctive functions. Webster 
defines instinct thus : " Unreasoning impulse 
in an animal, by which it is guided to the 
performance of an action without thought of 
improvement in method. " Professor Robley 
Dunglison's medical lexicon defines it thus : 
"Inwardly moved; the action of the living 
principle directing its operations to health 
preservation. The law of instinct is the law 
of the living principle." The latter defini- 
tion supports the function which we have 
attributed to instinct. 

The building of a dam by a beaver is a 
voluntary act directed by the brain, — the 
sensibility illustrating a limited degree of 
constructive ability, although it meets the 
required wants of the species. The function 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 63 

we recognize as instinct is directed by an 
involuntary vital property, an involuntary, 
constructive, preservative, living, active 
principle. From a scientific standpoint, it 
would seem in very bad taste to allow the 
term " instinct " to represent both voluntary 
and involuntary acts; and in place of defin- 
ing the instinct of a beaver as illustrated in 
the construction of a dam, we claim it would 
be more appropriate to have it apply to the 
construction of the beaver itself. 

That portion of Professor Dunglison's defi- 
nition, u the law of instinct is the law of the 
living principle," constitutes a valuable scien- 
tific text ; and while the " living principle " 
cannot be represented by instinct alone, 
neither can instinct be illustrated and under- 
stood except in connection with other vital 
properties as applied to the many affairs of 
the operations of life. Will some philologist 
please construct a word to take the place of 
"instinct," that may represent that innate 
intelligence which enables the animal crea- 



64 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

tion to exercise voluntary ability for self- 
preservation ? 

Sensation. This vital property will prove 
very interesting from a practical standpoint. 
The function of this property consists in 
making known to both sensibility and in- 
stinct all existing conditions and material 
relations, normal and abnormal. Sensibility 
relates us to the external world, while sen- 
sation relates us to the contact world. Vol- 
untary motion is exercised in response to the 
will, while involuntary motion is exercised 
by the dictates of instinct in response to a 
sensation. It is through the medium of 
sensation that the sensibility, the conscious- 
ness, becomes able to know many of the 
conditions and existing relations which 
require attention from that department; it 
is also the medium through which instinct 
becomes aware of the conditions and rela- 
tions requiring attention from that vital 
property. 

The variety of sensations are as prolific 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 65 

and innumerable as the different kinds and 
degrees of thought; and the question may 
arise, What is a sensation, and how is it 
produced? 

In non-professional literature incidents 
are mentioned causing emotion and commo- 
tion, which are erroneously called "sensa- 
tions," — a usage allowed to prevail because 
no special distinction has been recognized 
and defined, between sensation and sensibility 
as distinct life functions. The term "sen- 
sation " represents some kind of feeling expe- 
rienced from a contact relation with those 
nerves called the "nerves of sensation." 
This class of nerves are for no other purpose 
than to experience sensations caused by some 
existing relation of contact. There will be 
mentioned later some special exceptions to 
this statement. At present we will say that 
sensibility can exercise its function with 
relations at all distances, while sensation 
can exercise its function only at insensible 
distances. Thus we must recognize a very 

5 



66 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

significant distinction between the functions 
of those two vital properties. 

In illustration of different kinds of sensa- 
tion we may mention some of those feelings, 
or sensations, implied in sensational pleas- 
ures and miseries, — taste, smell, heat, cold, 
itching, smarting, sensational irritability 
undefined, and pain of all degrees, compris- 
ing a variety of sensations that may be known 
by the sensibility. There are very numerous 
sensations not recognized directly by the 
mind, but which first have relations to the 
instinct, and which later, indirectly, are thus 
known to have had existence. Such are 
implied in many of the causes of disease, to 
be illustrated later. 

The fact that sensations may be produced 
by contacts affords opportunity for their 
development at will. Thus sensibility — in 
other words, intellect — may learn how to 
produce any kind of sensation desirable ; also 
how many sensations are produced which are 
not desirable. Those nerves created for 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 67 

such purpose are ever on the alert to recog- 
nize and experience such sensations as be- 
come a part of the conditions of health and 
disease. Sensation must be recognized as 
an ultimate vital property distinct in itself, 
and no factor of any other vital property. 
Sensibility is a vital property having a func- 
tion which may comprehend the universe; 
while sensation has no function outside that 
part of the universe not implied in a contact 
with the living organism. 

We insist that an ideal distinction shall 
become fixed, relative to the difference be- 
tween the two functions of sensibility and 
sensation. No reader can proceed under- 
standing^ without first developing such a 
recognition. If we refer to the lexicons for 
a definition, I fear we shall fail to find a 
distinction with a difference. And in the 
reading of medical literature it will be 
observed that the most distinguished writers 
permit sensibility to be manifested by every 
part of the external body, from the toes to 



68 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

the crown of the head. No distinction is 
recognized between the knowledge of a sen- 
sation and the sensation itself. The lexi- 
cons define sensibility as " a capacity to feel, 
— as a frozen limb loses its sensibility. " In 
such an instance the leg has lost its function 
of sensation, and the sensibility has become 
aware of the fact. 

Consider for a moment what progress could 
be made with the science of numbers, pro- 
vided its teachers failed to establish an ideal 
distinction between the fundamental princi- 
ples of addition and division. We may ac- 
quire certain knowledge independent of the 
vital property of sensation, while some kinds 
of knowledge must be acquired through that 
function. There are certain facts that may 
become known from two unlike methods. 
We may perceive through the media of the 
optic organs, and thus know, that an injury 
has been done to the external structures; 
while the sensation called " pain " may also 
enable such fact to be known. There are 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 69 

numerous facts, however, of which we have 
no means of knowing except by this indirect 
way of recognizing the kind of sensation 
which has been produced from some contact 
cause. There is also another combination 
through which we are enabled to know of 
facts, unlike either of the two mentioned: 
not from sight, not from recognized sensa- 
tion, but from an act — a visible action — 
which instinct has directed, and which is 
manifested by an involuntary contractility. 
In other words, some cause of disturbance 
may exist producing a sensation from con- 
tact relating only to the instinct, relative to 
which instinct directs activities; and we 
become aware of such existing contact and 
cause only by a recognition of the patholo- 
gical vital action. For instance, a person 
may swallow some strychnia in disguise, 
and in a brief time the instinct has become 
aware of such fact through the nerves of 
sensation, and has directed involuntary 
contractility, — convulsions. 



70 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

The practical man may despise such fine- 
spun theories, but he should remember that 
this kind of incident is continually being 
presented in the manifestation of active dis- 
ease, where causes are not recognized to exist 
until consequences are developed. He should 
keep in mind also that the cause of disease 
is not active, but always passive. Health is 
physiological vital action, while disease is 
pathological vital action. Words are ori- 
ginated for the transportation of ideas ; and 
unless the original idea is correct, the term 
may be misleading. 

Medicine is as passive as the cause of 
disease. It does not act ; it has no " active 
medical property." Medicine is useful as 
placed in contact with the nerves of sensa- 
tion, to cause instinct to direct a different 
involuntary vital action more conducive to a 
speedy restoration of normal vital function. 
Thus to be able to use medicine most advan- 
tageously, — to be able to seize the immediate 
opportunity, to know what to do and what 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 71 

not to do, — it is extremely essential that 
those who superintend the management of 
disease should be familiar with the Science 
of Vital Force, the only active agency that is 
operative in the affairs of health and dis- 
ease. A passive cause is not an active prin- 
ciple; and Nature's functional methods of 
co-operation and restorative process are dif- 
erent, and of finer calibre, than is implied in 
the doctrine of medical powers and " active 
medical principles. " 

Notwithstanding that some of the theories 
here presented may seem hair-splitting and 
unpractical, such is not the fact; and the 
subject includes those which are much finer, 
and also eminently practical. 

Contractility. This is a vital property of 
animal strength, manifested in muscular 
tissues, — a contractile strength which can 
be measured in pounds. This vital property 
is as distinct in its function as either of 
those already mentioned. 

The sensibility uses and makes application 



72 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

of this property for voluntary duties requir- 
ing muscular assistance, while instinct 
makes use of this property for the execution 
of involuntary acts requiring muscular effort. 
The heart is operated by instinct; but some 
individuals can exercise sufficient will-power 
to modify the heart's action. There may 
be degrees of mental emotion sufficient to 
suspend completely the heart's action and 
to cause death. The function of respiration 
can be exercised by both the sensibility and 
the instinct. This function is performed by 
a muscular contraction which lifts the ribs, 
draws them upward nearer the chin, — tend- 
ing to produce a vacuum, which is prevented 
by the inflowing of atmospheric air. The 
muscular contraction and lifting of the ribs 
can be executed voluntarily; but when this 
action is automatically executed, as in the 
ordinary method, carbonic acid and other 
material continually accumulate in the 
blood, and thus come in contact with cer- 
tain nerves, causing a sensation, — to which 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 73 

instinct responds with an involuntary con- 
traction of the muscles, which contraction 
raises the ribs and enlarges the chest for 
the ingress of atmospheric air required for 
vital purposes. Certain waste material is 
thus eliminated through the lungs, and 
fresh air is supplied for further use in 
life functions. 

Instinct can exercise muscular contrac- 
tility with those muscles usually operated by 
the voluntary abilities, — as illustrated in 
convulsions caused by strychnia, and also in 
numerous instances where extreme sensa- 
tional irritability prevails from various 
causes. The muscular contortions of a 
decapitated fowl are exercised by instinct. 
The squirming of eels and other fish lately 
killed and subjected to heat, thus causing 
sensation unknown to consciousness, are 
responded to by instinct; and also the 
muscular actions induced by electrical cur- 
rents in contact with a decapitated human 
body. 



74 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

The relative preponderance of this vital 
property as manifested in different animal 
tissues is of great degree. There is more 
contractile strength in the feathered species 
than in' man, in proportion to their weight; 
while with some insect life this vital prop- 
erty is developed to a still greater degree. 
The vital properties, contractility, sensation, 
and sensibility, are each susceptible of much 
cultivation. 

The vegetable kingdom has similar ulti- 
mate vital properties. Instinct, sensation, 
and contractility in a modified function can 
be recognized in vegetative organisms, while 
sensibility constitutes a vital property of 
animal life. Some of the lower organisms 
of animal life possess but three of the vital 
properties. The vegetable organism has the 
ability to use and transform ultimate ele- 
ments and chemical compounds into organ- 
ized vegetation ; but animal life forces can- 
not use and assimilate material existing as 
ultimate elements and chemical compounds. 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 75 

Elementary material passes upward into 
chemical compounds, and later into vegetable 
organic structures; and it then becomes 
susceptible of being assimilated into tissues 
of animal life structures. In return, it 
goes downward into chemical compounds and 
ultimate elements. Thus there is a con- 
tinual change in organic material, upward 
and downward, from a lower to a higher 
state of existence and return, — an ever 
ceaseless change of transformation by the 
various forces of Nature. All material, to 
become susceptible of transformation into 
animal structures, must first be lifted up, 
and organized by the vital forces of the 
vegetable kingdom, before it is susceptible 
of transformation into the living structures 
of animal life. 

This previous and required preparation 
of animal food material conflicts with the 
alleged legitimacy of the commercial doc- 
trines of the period, implied in the prepara- 
tion of chemical compounds to be sold and 



76 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

fed to invalids in the name of " restorative 
nutrient foods." The vital forces of animal 
life can transform both organized vegetable 
structures and animal tissues into their own 
organism. 






V. 



FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES IN RELATIONS 
WITH DISEASE. 

TN the study of the Science of Vital Force, 
we not only recognize the existence of 
the four ultimate vital properties, but also 
that sensibility has a conscious and an un- 
conscious division of function, — that is, a 
supraliminal and a subliminal intellectual 
ability. Instinct is not such a function of 
animated life as is generally represented ; it 
is not expressed in a limited degree of volun- 
tary ability, but in the superintendence of 
an involuntary organic function, relative to 
the disposal of all kinds of material, both 
useful and otherwise, that are found within 
the citadel of life from accident or intention. 
All experienced sensations produced by 
material contacts relate either to sensibility 



78 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

or to the instinct. Some sensations are 
recognized only by the consciousness; while 
others relate wholly to the duties of instinct, 
and are not recognized by the sensibility. 
This latter division of sensations constitutes 
a very important subject of primary consid- 
eration in affairs of disease and medicinal 
relations. Both departments of sensation 
may be abnormal to such degree as to develop 
pathological vital actions, which in them- 
selves constitute active disease. Those which 
alone relate directly to instinct are produced 
by causes which develop consequences, before 
the causes or the abnormal sensations are 
known by the sensibility to have had exist- 
ence. It is this division of abnormal sensa- 
tions which produces disease so unexpected 
as to give rise to the remark that " disease 
has attacked the human system. " 

In addition to the direct relation of the 
several vital properties to the affairs of life, 
there are other approximate or sub-funda- 
mental principles entitled to an early 
consideration. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 79 

We must recognize that each vital property 
may act in a manner both normal and abnor- 
mal. Sensibility may become insane, and 
instinct may construct pathological anatomy ; 
sensation may manifest persistent irrita- 
bility, and contractility may be exercised in 
convulsions. All things being primarily 
normal, proper food in proper quantity will 
cause normal sensation; instinct will con- 
struct healthy structures, all involuntary 
contractilities will be normal, and sensi- 
bility will entertain rational ideas, and in 
due time correct the theories now in associa- 
tion with alleged medical science. Sensi- 
bility surveys and comprehends the affairs of 
the universe, and may supply a material 
cause for sensations both normal and abnor- 
mal, which are produced by an existing con- 
tact. The kind of sensation revealed to 
sensibility and to instinct will determine the 
special duty required from the functions of 
those departments. Instinct is ever on the 
alert in co-operation with sensation, inspect- 



80 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

ing every kind and quantity of material 
which becomes introduced by design or acci- 
dent within the contact boundaries of the 
citadel of life, with a view to use or elimi- 
nate such material. No agency acts except 
the vital. Instinct is a function always at 
work, and liable to become belligerent at 
any hour; while sensibility has natural 
periods for repose and activity. 

The present old and accepted plan implies 
that all material relations with the human 
organism may exist in one of three divisions, 
— nutrient, inert, and active. The so-called 
inert material constitutes a harmless material 
except from quantitive, mechanical relations, 
and is not of a kind sufficiently objectionable 
in small quantity to require special patho- 
logical vital acts for its removal, but may be 
eliminated in the ordinary manner without 
disturbance of normal function. Active 
material so called, both medicinal and poi- 
sonous, is a kind of material so seriously 
objectionable within the citadel of life that a 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 81 

special pathological vital act is manifested 
in relation to its presence. Based on this 
fact alone, the material is called active, 
because it causes the involuntary vital func- 
tion to act. Therefore this material is called 
a medicine, and is said to possess "active 
medical properties." This kind of material, 
however, does not act; it has no "active 
properties ; " but its presence being objection- 
able, there exists a cause for the involuntary- 
vital power to act differently. A passive 
cause is not an active principle ; and the day 
is coming when it will be considered as 
absurd to discover an "active medical prop- 
erty," as it would be now to allege that the 
sun revolved round the earth. A whip is 
equally entitled to be accredited with 
"active principles," because it may be so 
used as to cause both the voluntary and invol- 
untary life powers to act differently. 

The ideal " active medical property " is a 
doctrine having no better claim for consid- 
eration than the ancient ideal motion of the 

6 



82 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

sun. It is a vagary of superstition not yet 
eliminated, and is supported only by com- 
mon consent, and repudiated by Nature. A 
small relative quantity of such material is 
called a " medicine ; " a larger quantity is 
called a "poison." An alleged medical 
action is a mild pathological vital action; 
and the alleged action of poison is a violent 
and dangerous pathological vital action. 
Thus in the nature of such material is found 
the evidence presented and distorted, like 
the sun's motion, in the alleged proof that 
any material, simple or compound, may 
have " active properties. " In other words, a 
medical property is implied in that kind of 
material so seriously objectionable as to be 
a cause for the disturbance of the involun- 
tary vital force, and a cause for it to act 
differently. 

We have given the correct interpretation 
of an alleged "active medical property," 
which is incontrovertible. There is no edu- 
cational or practical advantage to be derived 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 83 

from such interpretation superior to the 
alleged functions of the ultimate vital prop- 
erties, but a great and dangerous disadvan- 
tage. The discovery of an "active medical 
property " has long been presumed to be of 
great value, while such is but the discovery 
of a material which the human organism 
cannot use for constructive purpose, and which 
requires to be eliminated when introduced 
within the system by a special pathological 
vital act. There are many millions of such 
compounds yet to be discovered. 

So far as history contributes to such infor- 
mation, Acron (who lived before Pliny) was 
the first to apply philosophical reason to 
medicine. He presented an idea surrounded 
with such entanglements of appearances that 
it has ever been difficult to eliminate the 
delusion, and to grasp the true principles 
and nature of vital force. There are in 
this problem appearances as misleading as 
the apparent motion of the sun. The human 
mind has corrected that ideal operation; 



84 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

while a similar misconception relative to the 
medical department, based wholly on appear- 
ances, continues to be perpetuated and thrust 
upon the people in this advanced state of 
civilization and culture. 

Do not let the idea escape recognition that 
medicine becomes useful as a means for a 
guiding relation, and not as an active doing 
relation; that its presence becomes a cause 
for the vital force to act differently from what 
it otherwise would. And to guide the invol- 
untary vital force knowingly and most advan- 
tageously and safely, it is necessary to have 
a distinct and clear idea of its nature, varied 
functions, and laws. Notwithstanding that 
medical literature has always supported and 
persisted in the theory that the "active 
medical property " acts, yet when this doc- 
trine is hard pushed for an explanation of 
what is meant by the use of such phraseology, 
it is not claimed that medicine has a power 
to impart, or that it really acts or exercises 
a function, — as the words " active medical 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 85 

property " would seem to imply. Thus while 
an active vital property acts, an alleged 
" active medical property " does not act. 

It is claimed in explanation that medicine 
only "makes an impression," in response to 
which the active vital principle acts. Such 
explanation is very near to being correct, 
although it is presented as diplomatic logic 
to escape the charge of accepting a medical- 
power agency. At the same time, the litera- 
ture of medical journals makes use of the 
terms "medical power," "'powerful medi- 
cine," and "active medical properties," with- 
out any attempt to explain that medicine 
has neither power nor active principles to 
impart, as would be true if medicine only 
"makes an impression." 

The inference is not yet disposed of that 
the " active medical property " " makes an 
impression " in place of acting, and is thus 
entitled to be represented as an active med- 
ical principle. It is necessary to under- 
stand what constitutes a medical impression. 



86 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

An impression is not a something done, but 
a something recognized as done. It is not 
unlike a sensation; indeed, the term "im- 
pression " is ambiguous, while the term 
"sensation" is precise, correct, and scien- 
tific. Medicine does not make a sensation, 
but causes a sensation. By simply changing 
the words " making an impression " to " caus- 
ing a sensation," the correct fundamental 
principle implied in the relation of medicine 
will be represented. This slight change in 
phraseology gives an entirely different idea 
of the source from which the operating active 
principle is supplied. In the implied differ- 
ence of the two statements there is made to 
exist a pivotal idea as significant as would 
be a reply to the question, " Which orb is 
the centre of the solar system, the earth or 
the sun ? " 

A distinguished medical writer has said 
"that medicine acts like the cause of dis- 
ease. " This is a correct comparison of facts ; 
but the underlying principle that gives exist- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 87 

ence to such facts fails of being lifted up for 
recognition. In such an expression the idea 
is still perpetuated that some mysterious 
agency or " active principle " is in association 
with the cause of disease and with medicine 
which enables each to be active. In other 
words, some active principle, not vital, is 
presumed to operate the organs of the living 
human system. The fact is that the contact 
of the cause of disease and the contact of 
medicine each cause a sensation; and one 
kind of cause is succeeded by a pathological 
vital action which constitutes active func- 
tional disease, while the other kind of cause 
of sensation is succeeded by pathological vital 
acts of a different kind, called medicinal 
effects. Neither has acted, but each has 
caused a different vital act. 

It may be instructive here to refer to 
authorities that accept the old plan as a basis 
for theories, and I will quote from a standard 
publication of 1844 the definition then given 
by Dr. Wood to medicine : — 



88 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

" What are medicines ? They are substances 
capable of producing as an ordinary result, and 
by their own inherent power, certain modifica- 
tions of the vital functions, which render them 
applicable to the cure of disease." 

Doubtless no one will question the asser- 
tion that the time has been when medicine 
was accredited with having "power." The 
late Dr. Edward H. Clark, when professor 
of Materia Medica in Harvard Medical 
School in 1865, said to his class in a lecture 
on the subject of Ergot : — 

"The same preparation of ergot often acts 
finely for a period, but may lose its power, or 
it certainly seems to, although the bottle has 
remained corked and properly cared for. And 
how that power escaped, or why it ceased to act, 
is a problem which will wait till medical science 
can explore deeper those mysteries which sur- 
round us." 

Another distinguished writer and medical 
authority says : " We know very little of the 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 89 

essential nature of disease, — indeed, noth- 
ing at all. " 

Now, functional disease is pathological 
vital action, — a kind of action and disturb- 
ance that cannot be made to exist without a 
previous abnormal sensation. Thus disease 
begins with an abnormal sensation. The na- 
ture of every involuntary vital act is modified 
and determined by the kind, degree, and qual- 
ity of sensation produced. The entire contact 
world is related to the living human organ- 
ism only through the vital property sensation. 
There is no active principle, not vital, that 
may exercise influence to modify vital func- 
tion. The modifying principle exists in the 
character of the sensation. Every kind of 
material has a causing relation when in con- 
tact, which causes some kind of sensation. 
Food material in proper quantity causes a 
normal sensation, which is succeeded by a 
physiological vital action constituting health. 
That material which may cause disease first 
causes an abnormal sensation, relative to 



90 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

which instinct directs pathological vital 
action, — another name for the existing con- 
dition called disease. What is called " opera- 
tive medical action " is a vital action exer- 
cised relative to some kind of sensation, pro- 
duced by the contact of material medicine. 
Thus the actions of the involuntary vital 
organism for the manifestation of health or 
disease are dependent on the kind of sensa- 
tion which is made, allowed, or does exist. 
The nature of disease is implied in the rela- 
tion of cause and effect. The cause occasions 
an abnormal sensation; and the effect is 
produced by a pathological vital action. This 
constitutes all that may be implied in " the 
essential nature of disease." 

The vital property sensation is a pivotal 
life-function of great significance ; and while 
the dictionaries and medical literature fail 
in outlining the distinction between this vital 
property and sensibility, it is the first opera- 
tive function in the affairs of the involun- 
tary living organism. Health, disease, and 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 91 

medical effects are each dependent on the 
kind of sensation produced. The involuntary 
vital organism is implied in sensation, 
instinct, and action. The sensation is a 
primary manifestation of a single vital 
property, while the action is a compound 
function of instinct and contractility. The 
human organism can execute physiological 
and pathological vital actions at the same 
time, — the greater proportion being the 
former, the less the disease; the greater 
proportion the latter, the more severe the 
disease. 

The relation of the entire materia medica 
to the human organism is implied in two 
grand divisions. First, medicine may cause 
a sensation without a subsequent develop- 
ment of involuntary action; and second, it 
may cause a sensation of a degree that is 
succeeded by the exercise of an involuntary 
vital action. Thus medicine may cause a 
sensation only, or it may cause a sensation 
that will be succeeded by vital action. The 



92 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

cause of disease has precisely similar rela- 
tions. Disease may exist as a disagreeable 
sensation, and also as a pathological vital 
action. 

There is only one method possible enabling 
the voluntary ability, the intelligence, to 
call up, harness, and guide, and make opera- 
tive, the involuntary vital force; and that 
method is implied in making a contact appli- 
cation that will produce and cause sensa- 
tions. There will be a slight and limited 
exception made to this statement in a future 
chapter. The genius of man has enabled 
him to harness the forces of gravitation, 
chemical and electric agencies, to fulfil 
desired results; but the harnessing of the 
involuntary life force of the human organism, 
— that department which produces health 
and disease, — and the calling of this agency 
into activity at will, has ever remained an 
unsolved theoretical problem. 

The Science of Vital Force affords a look- 
out station of very different standpoint from 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 93 

that adopted and occupied at the present 
time. It illustrates the importance of going 
back to primary principles, recognizing the 
difference of relation between an "active" 
and a passive cause of disease, between an 
alleged " active medical property " and a 
passive medical cause of sensation. It 
illustrates that the cause of disease is no 
more active than a bowlder on a railroad 
track is active in a railroad accident. The 
cause of disease is material in the wrong place, 
thus interfering by its presence with the 
normal function of an agency which is 
wholly separate from the cause of the 
disturbance. 

Based on the foregoing alleged fundamental 
principles, another very important question 
arises : What constitutes the varied causes of 
abnormal sensation ? It would be neither 
possible, practicable, nor instructive to enu- 
merate all such causes, while it would be of 
interest to consider the unlike divisions that 



94 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

may include a great multiplicity of such 
causes. 

Division A. In this division may be 
included food material undigested and in 
excess of required use, retained waste mate- 
rial, and chemical compounds that have 
formed from such material, — all of which 
may require special pathological vital acts 
for their removal. 

Division B. This will include all kinds 
of foreign material, organic and inorganic; 
filth material, solid, fluid, or gaseous, 
swallowed or inhaled; simple elements and 
chemical compounds introduced as such, and 
chemical products of the same of later for- 
mation, — all of which constitute primary 
causes of abnormal sensation, followed by a 
disturbance later, authorized by the vital 
property instinct, which presides over all 
material having a contact relation. 

Division 0. This may include mechanical 
causes of many kinds, implied in lacerations 
and compressed nerve structures, and also 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 95 

extremes of heat and cold from external 
associations, — all of which may cause pri- 
mary abnormal sensations, liable to be 
succeeded by pathological vital actions. 

Division D. This will comprise secondary 
causes, — a very large factor of disturbance 
ever being developed within, after the dis- 
eased process once begins from any primary 
cause. This class of causes includes local 
congestions, mechanical compressing of nerve 
tissues, development of higher temperatures 
of the blood (a secondary cause liable to pro- 
duce prolonged and serious consequences 
later), morbid pathological products and 
infiltrations developed by diseased action, 
and chemical changes that take place with 
such material within the organism. 1 

1 There is no kind of disease that may be known by any 
special name, which has its beginning and total cause for 
continuance implied in a relation of primary cause. This 
is an important fact for practical consideration, as well as 
an indispensable recognition in support of the theory of 
cause and effect, as presented in the operative procedures 
by the involuntary life force in the various forms and 
complications of disease. 



96 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

The secondary causes, produced by patho- 
logical disturbance and chemical changes, — - 
causes developed within, — - are of serious 
significance, which are made to exist more 
or less each clay. Primary causes are fre- 
quently of minor consideration when com- 
pared with the secondary, which are later 
made to prevail. Primary causes may often 
be removed, and yet the disease continue 
from causes later developed, which many 
times are very difficult to control. Blood 
poison in most cases is implied in products 
developed within, from some disturbance of 
a primary cause, which would be harmless to 
some, while fatal to others. Different organ- 
isms develop secondary causes in a very 
dissimilar manner. 

Causes of disease first produce abnormal 
sensations, which may be known sometimes 
by both sensibility and instinct, and may 
receive attention from either or both, while 
at other times abnormal sensation is recog- 
nized only by instinct. Consciousness may 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 97 

infer, and in fact know, that such an inci- 
dent has occurred, not from a recognition of 
the sensation as a pain or any other kind of 
sensation, but from a recognition of some 
involuntary active disturbance, — a disturb- 
ance which could not occur without a pre- 
vious abnormal sensation from some cause. 
This may be illustrated in the incident of 
swallowing strychnia in disguise, as well as 
in many cases of disease where the conse- 
quences are recognized before the primary 
cause is known to exist. In a very large 
variety of diseases we recognize the conse- 
quences, the disturbance, before we are in the 
least aware that causes exist. 

Among the fundamental principles there 
is another distinction to be recognized, which 
is of great importance both because of theo- 
retical and practical relations, — that while 
abnormal sensations may be followed by 
pathological vital actions called disease, 
there may be numerous abnormal sensations 
that are not succeeded by pathological vital 

7 



98 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

actions. This class of ailments are called 
" nervous " diseases, constituting a kind of 
trouble existing as disagreeable sensations, 
from which the person or patient seeks relief. 
In close connection and corresponding with 
this existing condition, there may be recog- 
nized also that with medicinal relations there 
are kinds and small quantities of medicine 
which only occasion sensations that may be 
agreeable or otherwise, and which are not 
succeeded by any visible or recognizable 
active medicinal effects. 

Not only is there a theoretical but also a 
practical value to be associated with such 
facts. Thus the condition called "nervous " 
disease, and the fact that an agreeable sensa- 
tion may be produced with medicine; it 
becomes rational to infer that the temporary 
treatment of many of those disagreeable feel- 
ings consists largely in swapping sensations, 
— in producing a more agreeable sensation 
in exchange for the disagreeable. And while 
this suggestion seems consistent as a theory, 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 99 

the practical facts seem to verify the utility 
of such application. It is in harmony with 
the defined functions of the vital properties, 
and with the theory of medicinal relations. 
For instance, an intolerable itching of the 
skin may frequently be relieved with a two- 
grain solution of Hydrargyri bichloridum to 
one pint of boiling water, — the quantity of 
bichloride being only sufficient to effect a 
swapping of sensations, and not sufficient to 
cause an abnormal sensation to a degree that 
will be responded to by instinct with a series 
of involuntary activities. Hunger and weari- 
ness are both sensations that may often be 
relieved by a cup of strong tea, and also by 
alcoholic spirit. The person thus relieved is 
liable to infer that such remedy has contrib- 
uted nutritive support and energy to his 
organism. The craving sensation in alco- 
holism is being treated by supplying a cause 
for a different sensation, — in other words, 
a swapping of sensations. Patients often 
request their physician to give them a tonic, 



100 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

some " bracing " medicine that will relieve 
the tired feeling and build them up. This 
is not the place to discuss to what degree 
such a practice may be admissible; but it 
may here be said that such practice is liable 
to insure a profitable patient for the physi- 
cian, and in many instances it would be like 
attempting to cure alcoholic spirit conse- 
quences with alcoholic spirit medication. 

This branch of medical practice implied 
in the swapping of sensations, regardless of 
correct regimen and proper surroundings of 
sanitary relations, constitutes a serious im- 
pediment to the welfare of invalids. It is 
encouraged by the experience of a more 
agreeable temporary sensation, and sup- 
ported by the accepted, fallacious, and dan- 
gerous theory of "active medical properties." 
The new sensation is given the interpretation 
of a supplementary "active principle," which 
is presumed and alleged to be a contribution 
of temporary energy that is doing something 
to help Nature. Consequently there are 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 101 

levied millions of tribute on the prevailing 
ignorance of the science of recovery, and the 
standard of national health is being thus 
seriously impaired. 

The term "medical tonic" is an ideal mis- 
nomer. All kinds of alleged medical tonics 
— quinine, ale, and beer — are but so many 
kinds of material that effect a temporary 
exchange of sensations. This is a subject 
worthy of the consideration of philanthro- 
pists, and of all who may have an interest 
in the general welfare of the individual and 
the nation. Medical tonics and " bracing " 
medicines are made useful in that commer- 
cial transaction implied in the swapping of 
sensations. The patient mistakes the ex- 
change of sensations for a contribution of 
energy; and the physician often makes a 
similar mistake in giving his patient chem- 
ical compounds as alleged constructive mate- 
rial. When a person feels that a medicine 
has given him strength, the fact is that only 
a different sensation has been produced. 



102 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

Thus feeling less weary, they infer they have 
more strength. But the effecting an exchange 
of sensations with such material is no more 
an evidence that constructive nutrient mate- 
rial has been supplied to the body, than the 
excitement produced by a new idea is evi- 
dence that a contribution has been made for 
the support of brain weariness. 

A multitude of alleged " nerve foods " and 
" nerve-tonic " compounds belong to this class 
of medicines, although such are not foods. 
Alcoholic spirit is the old "stand-by " remedy 
for weariness, antedating all other discov- 
eries. An eminent medical writer says, 
" There are conditions in which alcohol acts 
simply as material for the production of 
force, and may be looked upon as a food 
which requires no digestion, and sets free 
in a useful form its latent energy. " On the 
contrary, it has no "latent energy," and does 
not " produce force ; " but is a cause for a 
new sensation and the expenditure of vital 
energy in a different direction. The United 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 103 

States Dispensatory and mouth-piece of 
legal-tender ideas is permitted without pro- 
test to continue imparting the information 
that " alcohol in a diluted state gives addi- 
tional energy to muscles and temporary exal- 
tation to the mental faculties. " With such 
doctrines emanating from the highest accred- 
ited institutions of learning, it is not strange 
that mankind should resort to the practice 
of drinking alcoholic spirit for the " energy " 
it may be presumed to supply, — a doctrine 
apparently supported by an experience of 
"feeling better. " 

As a people and a nation we are living in 
an age of cultured and singular delusion, — a 
delusion which is inflicting consequences 
that are sought to be abolished without an 
effort to correct the cause. The cause is 
the false education. People drink alcoholic 
spirit to enable them to "feel better, " and to 
give them strength; and they do this in 
accordance with the doctrines of alleged and 
accepted science. While the would-be 



104 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

benefactors of the race are trying to avert 
the miseries thus produced, by resorting to 
prohibitive legislative enactments, would it 
not be equally as beneficial, to say the least, 
to give special attention to an education that 
would cease to develop and perpetuate such 
expectancies ? There are many people who 
have not the ability to deal safely with a 
practice implied in such fallacious expec- 
tancies of supplied energy; and while the 
highly cultured frequently stagger under such 
responsibilities, they should have pity in 
place of censure for those who are less 
capable. 

A most successful medical practice for the 
saving of human life must be implied in such 
methods of guidance of the vital energies as 
will occasion the least expenditure of capital 
stock of the existing vital force. Medicine 
does not supply temporary "active princi- 
ple " or medical power, but it occasions vital 
energy to be expended in a different mani- 
festation. The practice of medicine without 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 105 

a knowledge of the nature and laws of invol- 
untary vital force is frequently a dangerous 
experiment, quite similar to the guiding of 
a ship in a storm without a mariner's com- 
pass. And when the people awaken to the 
importance of this branch of education, 
there will be a simultaneous effort by all 
cultured civilization to dissipate the fog of 
superstition and ignorance which is con- 
signing thousands annually to an untimely 
grave. 

In the development of an enlightened civil- 
ization, numerous ideal fallacies of Nature's 
plans and methods require to be eliminated. 
The ideal flat earth had to be abandoned; 
the human mind had to outgrow its ideal 
associations relative to inorganic material 
transformation, and surrender the expectancy 
that base metals could be changed to gold; 
the popular idea of the centre of the solar 
system had to be changed, which was effected 
under protest and much remonstrance. It is 
said, however, that such crude ideas prevailed 



106 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

before the star of science had illuminated 
the pathway of the human mind, during the 
dark age of superstition. But the combined 
crudities of thought relative to all those 
departments of science do not out-weigh in 
magnitude the present calamitous fallacy 
that presumes and accepts the existence of 
some agency in Nature, not vital, which 
acts on the human organism to produce 
disease, and also some agency and "active 
medical principle " which acts to operate the 
organs of human life, supposed to possess a 
curative influence to restore health. His- 
tory keeps green the ideal fallacies of the 
past, while the worse and dangerous ideal 
fallacy of to-day remains unchallenged. The 
expectancy that an "active medical prop- 
erty " has existence, that it can be bottled, 
sold, and used as a contribution of temporary 
energy in substitution for vital force, has as 
strong a hold on human credulity as any of 
the ancient delusions that were accepted on 
the basis of appearances. Facts warrant 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 107 

the use of stronger epithets than any here 
employed, and which will surely be found 
in future history, relative to this period 
and age of experimental research for the dis- 
covery of an imaginary substitute for vital 
force. 



VI. 

DISEASE GERMS. 

HTHE modern germ-theory of disease im- 
plies that diseases, more or less, may 
be caused by germs, — which theory consti- 
tutes a subdivision of alleged causes that is 
entitled to separate consideration. Its advo- 
cates say that it is a subject "entitled to 
coolest criticism, — never leaving, however, 
the experimental facts for the airy region of 
wild theorizing and speculation." We do 
not care to deny "facts," but desire to learn 
what kind of fact is determined by such 
experiment. Every fact in Nature is entitled 
to an explanation; and whatever theory is 
presented for that purpose n*ay be called 
" wild " or rational according to the stand- 
point accepted by the observer, according to 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 109 

which lookout station is occupied, — the old 
plan or the new. 

The germ-theory is a doctrine alleged to 
be based on facts, of a kind however that will 
be mentioned later. It has been projected 
to "account for the methods of multiplica- 
tion of dangerous disease." Disease as con- 
sidered in the light of the germ-theory, called 
the "ravages of parasites," and considered 
also in the light of the old plan and accord- 
ing to the interpretation of distinguished 
authorities, is said to " attack " the human 
family, and "pursues the ordinary routes of 
travel, following the human race along 
ocean paths." According to this quotation 
from an article on the germ-theory found in 
a journal of acknowledged scientific author- 
ity, it would seem that disease chooses to 
inhabit regions frequented by the human 
family ! 

We must begin the consideration of the 
"germ -theory of disease" by changing the 
language of the text, — making it to read, 



110 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

" germ-theory of the cause of disease. " There- 
fore it will be important to determine to 
what extent an alleged germ may be a cause 
of disease, — which constitutes all there is to 
consider of alleged " facts " implied in such 
discovery, and also constitutes the kind of 
fact we propose to examine. In a previous 
chapter we disposed of the relation of the 
cause of disease to the human organism; 
and whatever relation an alleged " germ " 
may have, it can be of no different relation 
as a " multiplier of dangerous disease. " The 
cause of disease does nothing ; it has no influ- 
ence, it is not active ; it is only a cause of 
abnormal sensation. 

What does the word " germ " signify, and 
what is a germ ? 

It is important to go to the bottom of this 
germ-theory. A germ signifies that which is 
to develop into something, and from which 
something has its origin. The micro- 
organism which constitutes the alleged germ 
may be a microscopic plant or an animalcule. 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. Ill 

Those organisms feed on organic matter, 
seizing it on its downward course from a 
previous higher organization; and thus they 
multiply wherever it is possible to obtain 
such nutriment for their support. The 
plant organizations are designated as "bac- 
cilli," and the animalcules as "bacteria " and 
"protozoa." The term "parasite "is given 
to both, signifying a micro-organism which 
draws its nourishment from other organisms. 
The terms " microbe " and " bacteria " are 
frequently applied to both kinds of organ- 
isms ; while numerous special names are used 
to designate some variation of appearance as 
found in different fluids and localities of the 
body. The germ micro-organism, of micro- 
scopic discovery, does not develop into any- 
thing; it remains the same until death. 
Therefore it is not a germ in that sense of the 
definition; and there is much doubt, well 
founded in the nature of things, whether 
disease, seldom without inoculation by inten- 
tion, can have its origin from this kind of 



112 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

alleged cause, — that is, from living micro- 
organisms. Doubtless the alleged germ is 
sometimes a cause of disease, — that is, a 
cause of abnormal sensation of a degree 
sufficient to develop active disease. Such 
kind of cause, however, has its relation 
obscured by being called a "germ." This 
kind of cause is no more entitled to be called 
a " germ " than are numerous other kinds of 
primary causes that are not micro-organisms. 
All kinds of causes have only one kind of 
relation, — a cause of abnormal sensation, 
the first existing change in the direction of 
disease. 

The accepted theory of putting the cause 
of disease for the production of disease, in 
accordance with the old plan, supposes the 
cause to exercise an influence, and to act. 
It can be demonstrated, however, that a cause 
of disease does not act, but only constitutes 
a cause for the involuntary vital force to act 
abnormally; which in itself is the disease. 
Thus it would be very difficult to determine 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 113 

what kind of a cause was a germ and what 
kind not a germ, while all causes have a 
similar relation. 

We thought we had good reason for chang- 
ing the phraseology " germ-theory of disease " 
to " germ-theory of the cause of disease ;" and 
we now find also good reason for insisting 
that in place of the last form of words this 
subject might be better represented by the 
phrase "bacterial cause of disease." The 
word " germ " is wholly out of place in such 
relation; and should the microscope be 
applied to the idea as well as to the plant 
and animalcule, the outline would appear 
very different. 

We still have the question before us, Do 
bacteria cause disease ? Is it the nature of 
such organisms as a dried Spanish fly to have 
an irritant relation to nerve tissues ? Were 
they not designed merely as scavengers ? 
Do such organisms exist most plentifully in 
a healthy body, or in a body already dis- 
eased ? Is it not true that such micro- 

8 



114 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

organisms find their best opportunity for 
existence because some diseased action has 
previously existed ? Every bacteriologist 
knows that such is the fact. 

Practical facts seem to show in some in- 
stances that disease has evidently been 
produced by the transference of such micro- 
organisms to a different individual. On the 
other side is the fact, equally as practical, 
that such inoculation does not always pro- 
duce disease. So seldom has disease been 
thus produced, compared with the failures to 
produce, that some able physicians have 
alleged that the germ-theory was inapplicable 
even upon the basis of experiment. The 
supposition is not without some reason that 
micro-organisms, more or less constructed 
from filth material, might break down and 
present an amount of poisonous material 
sufficient to be a cause for vital disturb- 
ance in some instances. 

In brief, from the basis of fundamental 
vital principles and rational reason the bacte- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 115 

rial cause of disease, without inoculation, 
would seem so nearly harmless that it would 
be wiser to recommend the prevention and 
the destruction of filth material as a sanitary 
measure, rather than to consider the microbe 
the cause of disease. Is it not rational to 
suppose that the material from which the 
micro-organism is created, would be a less 
cause of disturbance existing in an organized 
state than in its previous condition suscep- 
tible of solution and absorption ? Who will 
deny that such micro-organisms do not exer- 
cise the function of scavengers ? 

The " disease germ " and bacterial cause 
of disease is considered more applicable to 
zymotic disease, — that is, those diseases 
propagated by contact, measles and scarlet 
fever being illustrative types. The discov- 
ery that yeast, or leaven, is a multiplication 
of microscopic plant organisms, gave rise to 
the doctrine of the germ-theory of zymotic 
disease; and the well-known fact that such 
disease seldom develops more than once in 



116 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

the same individual furnishes theoretical 
complications in association with the germ- 
theory that require special consideration. 
On the supposition that a growth of micro- 
organisms, more or less, constitutes the cause 
of such disease, is it not a singular fact that 
a human organism can develop a nidus, or 
material for such growth, only once in a 
lifetime, — and especially when we consider 
that with such disease, when existing, there 
is a more or less rapid production of poison 
within the system that is eliminated through 
the skin, which material also becomes a 
local irritant at the point of escape ? 

Now we ask, is this escaping poison a 
micro-organism, dead or alive, a broken 
down product of such life, or is it a poison 
developed by pathological vital action ? The 
fact that such disease rarely occurs more than 
once in a lifetime gives rise to two important 
questions, — Can the human system develop 
only once a compound food-material for the 
growth of micro-organisms ? and, Can patho- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 117 

logical vital action develop a second time a 
similar poisonous product to what was first 
produced, through tissues that have once 
been subjected to a diseased action ? It is a 
well-known fact that certain tissues can be 
modified by a diseased action, and prevent 
a recurrence of effusions through serous 
membranes. A cicatrix never has the func- 
tion of the tissue it has displaced. Should 
this subject be considered in its complete- 
ness, we think the weight of testimony 
would favor the acceptance of the theory 
that pathological vital action could seldom 
develop more than once the specific poison 
peculiar to such diseases. And is it not 
more rational to accept such a method of 
supplied cause, — a pathological product, — 
than to accept the allegation that the human 
organism cannot more than once in a life- 
time elaborate a fluid compound capable of 
the growth of micro-organisms ? Should 
the subject of the bacterial cause of the 
zymotic group of diseases be carried up to 



118 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

the high court of inquiry, it is reasonable to 
believe that this group, which is presumed 
to contribute the most support to the germ- 
theory, would be found to contribute the 
least. 

This group of diseases, which seldom 
occur more than once in a lifetime, while 
subject to the same general laws of cause 
and effect, is subject to a different produc- 
tion of supplied primary causes not common 
to other disease. That is, whatever the pri- 
mary disturbing cause may be, the preponder- 
ance of secondary product is similar. In 
this interesting group of diseases we have to 
infer that the primary cause is similar to 
that poison which is eliminated through the 
skin, which in itself constitutes a cause for 
local disturbance at its place of exit desig- 
nated the eruption. Thus we are persuaded 
to infer that the cause of zymotic disease is 
a pathological product, and not in the nature 
of micro-organisms. We have also to con- 
sider that some of the zymotic diseases do 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 119 

develop away from all possible contagion as 
a sporadic presentment; and it is rational to 
infer that some unlike primary cause, which 
in itself will not propagate the disease in a 
different person, may cause a pathological 
disturbance which will produce this special 
poison, and that the poison so generously 
produced will from contact produce a similar 
disease in one whose system has never been 
subjected to a previous and similar patholog- 
ical disturbance. 

In accordance with the apparent nature of 
things, based on natural fundamental prin- 
ciples, it would seem that the micro-organism 
might be more of a scavenger than anything 
else, — both the harmless and the alleged 
disease-microbe. Those scientists who make 
this subject a study do not claim to find an 
alleged disease-microbe in a healthy organ- 
ism, but only where disease already exists, 
— where there is something for that special 
variety to feed upon. The micro-organism 
as found in a healthy human body is regarded 



120 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

as harmless, while the microbe found in a 
diseased system is charged with being the 
cause of disease. Why not allege that the 
harmless microbe may be the cause of health, 
— the health germ of balanced functional 
harmony ? 

Vaccine matter and small -pox virus are 
pathological products, and with persons who 
never had such disease this virus will occa- 
sion a vital disturbance which will develop a 
similar product; but when the virus has 
been changed by chemical agency, its contact 
relations will not occasion such a vital dis- 
turbance as will produce the specific patho- 
logical virus. And it may be well to state in 
this place that the practice of vaccination, 
and its legitimate and effectual protection 
against small-pox, is founded on laws of vital 
processes, which are as stable and capable 
of demonstration as are the laws which make 
it possible to calculate an eclipse. Its utility 
has been demonstrated by experience, while 
the laws of its applicability and appropri- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 121 

ateness are supported by the science of vital 
force. 

The operative laws of vital force in rela- 
tion to the production of the cause of scarlet 
fever give equal protection through a similar 
modification. But the question may arise, 
whether the bovine species can have scarlet 
fever; and if so, how we can secure the spe- 
cial pathological product for such purpose. 
A London physician some ten years ago 
announced an outbreak of this disease among 
the cows in that vicinity, — a disease said 
to be known in veterinary text-books as 
" erythema mammillarum ; " but the process 
of securing such modified virus has not yet 
become a matter of record. In connection 
with the mention of this law of possible 
utility, we will also say that the treatment of 
scarlet fever based on the principles of the 
new plan will prove far more successful. 

The precise existing condition of the cause 
of typhoid fever is yet an unsolved problem 
in the minds of the profession; and to say 



122 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

that typhoid fever is caused by a "disease 
germ " conveys but little intelligence on the 
subject. We thus have for consideration the 
question whether such cause is a pathological 
product, or the product of chemical agency ; 
also whether such disease may be caused 
from relations of bacterial existence, which 
are alleged by some German authorities to 
secrete a virulent poison, and thus make it 
possible to develop such disease from micro- 
organisms that have been transferred from a 
person previously sick with typhoid fever. 
Material existing as a pathological product 
is composed of organic elements that are 
liable to experience chemical changes. 
Thus when typhoid fever is developed from 
drinking polluted water, is the material 
cause a soluble pathological product, or a 
soluble chemical product ? Or is it neither, 
but consisting of micro-organisms created in 
association with previous disease ? There 
are numerous instances where it appears 
that persons have contracted typhoid fever 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 123 

from visiting those who were afflicted with 
this disease. Thus it would seem that the 
exhaled poisonous vapor from the patient 
had been inhaled by the visitor. In such 
instances there may be found strong evidence 
to support the inference that the cause of 
typhoid fever exists as a soluble pathological 
product. This disease has also appeared to 
develop from surroundings of filth material, 
and a residence in close relations with a 
pig-sty. 

The complexity of this subject in all its 
variations is very great; and it is a subject 
entitled to more attention than we can 
give space for in this introductory volume. 



VII. 

TOLERATION. 

'T^HIS may be a unique term for the repre- 
■*• sentation of a scientific principle ; but 
in accordance with the dictionary definition, 
it stands for a useful factor of organic 
economy, — " the allowance of that which is 
not wholly approved. " 

No doubt the thoughtful reader has observed 
that in the theory we have presented, implied 
in a primal cause of abnormal sensation that 
wakes up and is succeeded by a pathological 
vital action, — an action that in itself may 
develop secondary causes for continued ab- 
normal sensation, and a prolonged continu- 
ance of pathological actions, — there is no 
provision made for the termination of such 
disturbed vital action. Thus, so far as the 
theory has been presented, a disturbance 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 125 

once started goes on forever to the end of 
individual life. Therefore, to preserve the 
theory and also the patient, and to enable a 
return to conditions of health, some other 
principle in Nature not mentioned must take 
part in disease problems ; that is, a cause for 
abnormal sensation must be allowed to exist 
which is no longer the incentive for a con- 
tinuance of pathological proceedings. In 
other words, we must allow for a principle 
permitting causes of a kind that have previ- 
ously occasioned abnormal sensations to a 
degree sufficient to arouse pathological activ- 
ities, to continue to remain and not develop 
such disturbance. 

Now, while such a new principle is desir- 
able for the benefit of the patient, and in- 
dispensable for the support of the theory 
advanced, is there a principle provided in 
Nature to meet this practical and theoretical 
emergency ? In demonstration of such a 
provision, we call attention to the well- 
known fact that people who reside in a 



126 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

malarious district sooner or later become 
"acclimated," as they call it; that is, they 
become accustomed to the surroundings, and 
their nervous system tolerates the malarial 
poison without the development of chill and 
fever. 

All medicines, when long continued, fail 
to produce the same effect from the same 
quantity, and are said not to act. The 
drinker of alcoholic spirit is required to 
increase the quantity in order to produce the 
same effect. The ergot which was said by 
the medical professor to have " lost its power " 
is an illustration of the principle of tolera- 
tion. Children who are brought up in the 
tenement houses of a crowded city will toler- 
ate for a long period those causes of disease 
which would disturb a healthy child from a 
rural district in a very brief time. 

Toleration, then, represents a principle of 
self-preservation in association with the 
involuntary function, and oftentimes will 
compensate for neglect of voluntary duties. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 127 

The existence of this kind of principle is too 
well known to require further illustration. 
In such a principle there is implied a wise 
provision of Nature, a reserve corps, for self- 
preservation under certain circumstances. It 
is the principle which makes it possible that 
certain diseases may be self-limited. It is 
a distinguishing principle existing in acute 
disease, while not operative in chronic. 

Now, while this principle crops out spon- 
taneously in many actions of the human 
organism, it may also be artificially induced 
by the physician through medication, from 
sedative and anaesthetic medicines whose 
presence in contact with certain nerves 
abrogates more or less the function of 
sensation. 

The principle of toleration is not a fifth 
vital property ; it is not applicable to physi- 
ological proceedings, but applies only, and to 
a limited degree, in association with patho- 
logical actions. It is a principle to be ever 
kept in mind in the treatment of disease ; and 



128 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

it is a condition to be induced under certain 
circumstances, and not to be induced under 
other circumstances. Sometimes serious 
consequences follow upon the transposition 
of the application of this principle. Thus to 
be able to guide most advantageously the 
involuntary active vital principle in condi- 
tions of disease, constitutes the most valuable 
acquisition in the practice of medicine. 

Special senses. It might be well in this 
place to allude to the subject of special 
senses, frequently called special sensations 
and sensibilities, as implied in special 
methods of acquiring intelligence, and recog- 
nized in the functions of touch, taste, smell, 
hearing, and sight. 

The first three of these are special sensa- 
tions, while hearing offers a more complex 
problem. The transmission of sound being 
yet in the mill of controversy, — divided up 
between the undulating wave, the corpuscu- 
lar, gelatinous luminiferous, and interstellar 
aether theories, — to what degree and how 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 129 

the function of sensation is involved in it is 
not yet a settled problem. Sight seems to 
approximate a special sensibility, the image 
being produced through physical principles, 
and perceived by some special function of 
the brain. 

The nerves which experience certain sen- 
sations cannot experience different sensa- 
tions; and it might be truly said that the 
function of sensation is implied in an innu- 
merable multiplicity of special sensations, 
some being recognized by the sensibility, 
while others relate to the vital property 
instinct. We quote the following from a 
standard text-book on physiology: "By the 
sense of touch is usually understood that 
modification of common sensibility of the 
body of which the skin is the special seat." 
It is not possible to understand the science 
of numbers until a clear idea is made to pre- 
vail of tne distinction between the primal 
fundamental principles ; and the same is 
true of vital-power science. So too the 

9 



130 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

function of the four ultimate vital properties 
must exist in clear ideal outline, before it is 
possible to comprehend the nature and co- 
operative methods of the vital agency in 
affairs of disease. 



VIII. 

MEDICAL PRACTICE. 

TN a medical practice based on the funda- 
mental principles of active vital force, a 
different idea of duty will be recognized 
from that which is based on expectant 
action of presumed " active medical proper- 
ties." The subject will have an entirely 
different appearance from this new stand- 
point of perception. It is a change from an 
ideal position, where theories and thoughts 
are out of harmony with facts, to a basis 
where theories and thoughts will be in har- 
mony with facts and with Nature's plan, and 
susceptible of easy demonstration. The 
whole field of natural phenomena will take 
on as different an ideal appearance as was 
effected by the change of the ideal centre of 



132 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

the solar system. Facts will be recognized 
whose meaning will be better understood. 
There will be recognized indications of what 
to do; also, which is equally as important, 
what not to do ; also what degree of guidance 
of vital agency should be effected, and when 
it should be let alone. The cause of disease 
will be recognized as passive; and it will 
also be recognized that disease may exist as 
an abnormal sensation only, and as a patho- 
logical vital action, — and sometimes both. 
It will be recognized that medicine does not 
act, nor make impressions, but only causes 
sensations; that thus sensations may only 
require to be exchanged, or other sensations 
produced of such degree as to be succeeded 
by pathological vital actions, which will be 
the new phrase representing medicinal effects 
in substitution for the modus operandi of 
medicine. There will be recognized causes 
of disease both primary and secondary ; and 
the latter often being far more serious in 
their relations, great advantage will accrue 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 133 

to that method of treatment which will most 
effectually modify and prevent the develop- 
ment of these secondary causes. 

In the illustration of the varied causes of 
disease, — the causes of abnormal sensation, 
— we made use of several divisions for such 
enumeration ; and with the subject of applied 
medication, the same method will contribute 
better to an illustration of the situation. 
While medicines may be given to neutralize 
causes of disease, there are but two grand 
divisions of medicinal relations with vital 
functions. One division includes that rela- 
tion which produces sensations that are not 
succeeded by pathological vital actions. The 
other division is represented in that relation 
where sensations are produced that are suc- 
ceeded by pathological vital actions. 

First Division. In treating disease exist- 
ing only as an abnormal sensation, some 
kind of bad feeling without active disturb- 
ance, the indication is met by making such 



134 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

application and using such remedy as will 
cause a new sensation, — thus swapping sen- 
sations, producing an agreeable in place of 
a disagreeable sensation. 

In attempting to effect such exchange, it 
is very important that the kind and quantity 
of medicine used shall not produce such 
degree of abnormal sensation as to cause a 
subsequent pathological vital action to 
develop. The cause both of the development 
of active disease and of the development of 
active medicinal effect is implied in the pro- 
duction of an abnormal sensation of a degree 
that will be succeeded by pathological vital 
action. We have sufficient reason for believ- 
ing that great and serious mistakes are often 
made in failing to recognize such relations, 
and many pages would be required to do 
justice to the illustration of such errors. In 
medical practice these errors are numerous 
so far as medication is required in the swap- 
ping of sensations. While there may be 
numerous abnormal sensations requiring no 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 135 

other treatment than that of being exchanged 
for new, there may, on the other hand, 
abnormal sensations prevail where, instead of 
exchange, some operative proceedings should 
be instituted for the removal of the cause. 
But while in some instances the cause may 
be removed, in many cases this is impossible. 
In such cases a course of hygienic treatment 
is required, to develop surroundings favorable 
for normal sensations. 

It is this kind of fact, implied in the ex- 
change of sensations, which has made the 
Homoeopathic practice acceptable and scien- 
tifically correct in certain cases. The Homoe- 
opathic theory, however, is as irrational as 
other medical theories, — claiming, like the 
others, the use of " active medical principles " 
that act similar to the vital principle. In 
place, however, of administering medicine 
having "similar powers," the Homoeopathic 
dose has been of a size, that has caused a new 
sensation, but not of a degree sufficient to 
develop visible pathological vital actions. 



136 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

The small dose meets many requirements, 
but it does not meet all, as experience has 
revealed even to that school of practitioners. 
In referring to "schools of medicine," we 
may say that all scientific medical practice 
is based and operative on the nature and 
functions of vital force. This whole matter 
of superintending and treating disease is not 
implied in a meddling supervision, but in a 
watchful supervision. There are many com- 
pensating methods for the readjustment of 
normal sensations and normal activities con- 
signed to the custody of instinct. Thus 
instinct may be doing the best within the 
limit of possibility, and only requires to be 
let alone; while at other times instinct may 
require the exercise of much intelligence — 
of sensibility — for the safe guidance of its 
function. 

Second Division. This division includes a 
medical practice in relation to pathological 
vital actions, — actions induced by primary 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 137 

and secondary causes of abnormal sensation ; 
causes existing as pathological products, 
chemical compounds, infiltrations, mechan- 
ical congestions, and abnormal temperature. 
It is not our purpose to advise what to do ; 
but we propose to call attention to some of 
the relations that may be implied in those 
operative effects which medicine may have 
in the production of pathological vital 
actions. In the treatment of disease, shall 
we deploy vital action, and thus reduce the 
violence by dividing the direction of vital 
action ? This was a method of practice once 
highly esteemed, and which gave rise to the 
doctrine of contraria curantur, — a method 
of practice that was called "allopathic," 
which term is now erroneously used in the 
place of "regular," to distinguish the first 
schools of medical practice from the numerous 
names of modern invention. Shall we seek 
to diminish the violence of vital action by 
diminishing the primary and secondary 
causes ? What kind of causes can be elim- 



138 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

inated, and what neutralized; and how can 
the same be effected ? When shall we use 
sedatives to make causes tolerant, and how 
shall we reduce abnormal temperature ? 

Such divisions of treatment are of great 
practical consideration where one method 
might prove serious when substituted for the 
other. What was best to do yesterday, may 
not be the most useful to-day. Have we 
done our whole duty in treating conditions 
as they appear from day to day ? Shall we 
not anticipate severe and serious complica- 
tions in accordance with the laws of cause 
and effect, with the nature of vital force ? 
Shall we not seek to outgeneral the production 
of effects by guiding the vital action differ- 
ently, and thus avoid what would otherwise 
be a serious disturbance ? In these divisions 
of treatment there is a wide field for diver- 
sity of application, which might be much 
better illustrated in connection with special 
disease. Every form of disease is liable to 
develop some condition peculiar to itself, 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 139 

with different persons, implied in the rela- 
tions of primary and secondary causes and 
in the nature of operative vital force. 

Third Division. This is not a division of 
relations, unlike the two already outlined, but 
a classification to include and illustrate a few 
practical principles slightly removed from an 
ultimate fundamental basis, and to be made 
operative more in a distinction of methods to 
be adopted, and for miscellaneous suggestions 
that will be crowded into diminutive space. 

Abnormal temperature of the blood, of 
high degree, is a secondary cause important 
to consider; for too frequently it is the 
pivotal cause of complicated disturbance 
resulting in death in acute diseases. It is a 
cause not always recognized in its true 
relation to subsequent events. 

How shall we reduce the abnormal tem- 
perature of the blood, for the best interests of 
the patient ? High temperature is some- 
times diminished by suppressing vital action 



140 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

from medication, where such action is pro- 
ducing material for rapid combustion. This, 
however, is not a safe method in severe 
cases; for we thus diminish the secondary 
cause - temperature — at the expense of re- 
taining certain effete material not suscep- 
tible of elimination by different process, 
which should be favored with an early oppor- 
tunity of escape. High temperature reduced 
by conduction enables both the early escape 
of such material, and at the same time keeps 
the secondary cause — heat — below the max- 
imum temperature of greatest disturbance 
and danger. The reducing of high tempera- 
tures by conduction, from external applica- 
tion of wet compresses, is far more prudent 
and always within the limit of immediate 
control. The ratio of deaths from primary 
causes of disturbance is very small compared 
with those from secondary development; and 
among the secondary causes, it is doubtful 
if any are equal to abnormal temperature of 
the blood as a death producing complication 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 141 

in acute diseases. At the same time, it is a 
cause the most easily and effectually con- 
trolled, and apparently the least recognized. 

Among the numerous causes of disease 
both primary and secondary, there will exist 
causes to be eliminated, causes to be neutral- 
ized, causes to be made tolerant, and causes 
with which we can do none of these, — 
causes that require to be outgeneralled by 
deploying the vital energies. There are 
several valuable practical principles that 
can be illustrated in a case of rattlesnake 
poison. We have said that small-pox virus 
was a pathological product, while rattlesnake 
virus is a physiological product. The effects 
of rattlesnake virus may often be outgener- 
alled by the use of a large dose of spiritus 
frumenti, which may apply in various rela- 
tions. The presence of the medicine causes 
the nerves of sensation to be preoccupied, 
and thus to be more tolerant to a certain 
degree ; or, in other words, the medicine 
has early relation to primary sensation, in- 



142 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

eluding more nerve structure. It is of great 
importance to develop early primary sensa- 
tions, and thus keep the instinctive depart- 
ment of vital power from acting. It is desir- 
able to have the virus escape recognition 
from the function of sensation. The medical 
remedy admits of an early and general diffu- 
sion over the entire system, and receives 
attention by a manifest increase of blood sent 
to the capillaries of the skin, favoring the 
elimination of the remedy ; at the same time 
it prevents any severe local disturbance at 
the point of the inception of poison, thus 
outgeneralling the early effects of snake 
poison by the development of a different 
primary cause of disturbance over a greater 
and a different region, and giving time for 
an organic dissolution of the virus into less 
objectionable relations to living tissues. 

Death from rattlesnake virus is due to 
secondary causes, while strychnia is a pri- 
mary cause of death, — death ensuing from 
exhaustion by violent persistent muscular 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 143 

contractility. Hydrocyanic acid is a pri- 
mary cause of death, through relations to a 
different vital property, from a paralysis and 
abrogation of that division of the functional 
property of sensation which is operative in 
connecting instinct with executive involun- 
tary contractility. 

In this distinction there may seem to arise 
a very delicate question, — Why not infer 
that instinct is paralyzed ? In reply we say, 
that after death from such primary cause the 
galvanic current will occasion an abnormal 
sensation, irritability, followed by muscular 
contractions of the extremities, — indicating 
that only a certain division of the sensational 
function has become inoperative, while in- 
stinct remains able to exercise its function, 
as in the case of experiments after decapi- 
tation. 

As this third division is a medley of 
causes, operations, principles, and facts, we 
trust it will be admissible here to call atten- 
tion to certain remarks frequently made, 



144 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

which have ideas behind them likely many 
times to work disastrously in their practical 
application. 

It is often said, even by physicians, that a 
patient "is living on medicine," on stimu- 
lants. This is a very common idea both in 
and out of the profession ; and the accepted 
theory implied in the doctrine of "active 
medical principles " is responsible for it, — 
it makes such a belief imperative. As a 
matter of fact, however, the stimulant is too 
often hastening the death of the person. We 
repeat, that the theory of the existence of an 
agency, — an active principle, not vital, — 
in association with material medicine, makes 
the acceptance of such an idea irresistible. 
That is, the alcoholic spirit agency, or 
alleged "active medical principle," is pre- 
sumed temporarily to execute a function 
which the active vital principle cannot exe- 
cute under the existing circumstances of its 
enfeebled condition. The text-books allege 
that "alcoholic spirit gives energy to mus- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 145 

cles ; " in other words, that it imparts 
strength. What other inference can be legit- 
imately made on this basis of the accepted 
doctrine of " active medical principles " ? 

It is alleged in medical literature that the 
human mind has no conception of the nature 
of vital force. This leads us to remark, that 
the disposition to drink alcoholic spirit, and 
to use it as a medicine, is based on two mis- 
conceptions of serious magnitude. First, 
the interpretation has been accepted by the 
profession and the laity that an exchange of 
sensations effected by alcoholic spirit, — the 
exchange of a feeling of weariness for a less 
conscious feeling of weariness, — is satisfac- 
tory evidence of a supplied energy. Second, 
When alcoholic spirit given in a state of 
collapse has occasioned, as it many times 
does, a more nearly balanced circulation, 
the inference has been drawn that this was 
due to the fact that the " active principle " 
of the alcohol executed a temporary duty in 
place of the debilitated vital energy. 

10 



146 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

When, therefore, it is said that a person 
is "living on stimulants," it is presumed 
that the alcoholic "energy," alleged by high 
medical authority to exist, is running the 
machinery of life in place of the vital energy. 
If the accepted doctrine of "active medical 
properties" were correct, that presumption 
would be a correct one ; and it would also be 
commendable to urge the people to resort to 
alcoholic spirit for temporary energy. But 
should this long-cherished doctrine, like 
that of the ancient ideal earth-centre, be 
proven to be an error, a new education will 
be necessary as a fundamental basis for a 
successful anti-alcoholic era of prosperity 
and happiness. I believe that the erroneous 
idea of the relation of alcoholic spirit to the 
human organism indoctrinated and perpetu- 
ated by the medical profession, is the largest 
cause of the present evil habit of drinking 
alcoholic spirit so common among our people. 
Our citizens of best intelligence and of great- 
est influence are conscientious in their con- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 147 

yiction of the utility of alcoholic spirit for 
such purposes as advocated by the deluded 
medical profession ; and this conviction pre- 
vents the development of that healthy public 
sentiment which would otherwise exist to 
protect the people at large from a gross 
misuse of stimulants. 

We ask, now, What is the explanation of 
recovery from collapse, when such recovery 
is occasioned by the use of alcoholic stimu- 
lation? A person in a condition of collapse 
— a deficient capillary circulation and cold 
surface — is given a quantity of alcoholic 
spirit; and provided that the vital energies 
are sufficient, the heart's action becomes 
thereby accelerated, and a larger quantity of 
blood is sent to the surface instinctively to 
eliminate the alcohol as a legitimate official 
function of this vital property. In this way 
a better balanced circulation is made to pre- 
vail which is far more favorable to continued 
life, even at the expense of more or less vital 
energy, than was the existing condition of 



148 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

collapse. The vital-power theory, however, 
would advise that great caution be exer- 
cised in such an attempt to balance the circu- 
lation with alcoholic spirit relations; while 
the medical-power theory would permit great 
liberty in the supply of such expected new 
energy. 

While it would be folly to deny that human 
life may not in some instances be saved by 
the use of alcohol as a stimulant, yet if the 
theory of such use be wrong the tendency 
will be to continue the practice and destroy 
the patient. Stimulation as a practice rela- 
tive to the involuntary life-function is pre- 
cisely like the application of a whip to the 
voluntary ability : both will cause a different 
vital action. Alcoholic stimulation is not a 
gift of energy, but a different expenditure of 
vital energy. Like the use of the whip, it 
may be available under certain circum- 
stances; but there can be no doubt that it 
has caused, when given in collapse, ten 
deaths where it has saved one life. Educa- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 149 

tion not only prepares the mind to accept the 
inevitable, but also to accept theories based 
on imaginary principles; and education 
authorizes the giving of alcoholic stimulants 
to supply temporary uplifting energy. In- 
deed, should the physician not resort to such 
practice, he is liable to be severely censured 
for neglect ; and should the patient die from 
such treatment, the physician is given much 
credit for his perseverance with u active 
medical principles. " Who ever heard of an 
over dose of whiskey for collapse ? Medical 
doctrines and theories do not provide for such 
a possibility. If the patient lives, it is the 
alcoholic energy which saved his life; if 
death follows, the patient is charged with a 
deficiency of vital ability unequal to swallow- 
ing the fluid energy. This is a doctrinal 
provision which is very useful in the inter- 
ests of reconciliation. 

In trying to anticipate correctly the future 
developments in a human organism diseased 
from varied causes, and theorizing from the 



150 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

old and accepted ideal plan now in use, cer- 
tain disadvantages will attend the mental 
operation, such as prevailed with the Ptole- 
maic theorist when trying to calculate future 
astronomical events. The new plan, how- 
ever, to which we call attention, enables the 
medical theorist to take advantage in his 
calculations of all operative principles and 
laws, as the Copernican system enables the 
astronomer to do at the present time. 



IX. 



SENSATION AND SENSIBILITY. 

r I ^HESE two vital properties have func- 
-*- tional relations not previously con- 
sidered, and which can be described better 
in a separate chapter, consisting in the fact 
that each may modify and disturb the func- 
tion of the other, unlike the relations of pre- 
vious mention. We can say of those life 
properties what we have said of the group 
of zymotic disease, that while they hold a 
common relation to all things in association 
with other vital properties, they also have 
additional relations of inter-association some- 
times difficult to illustrate. But all progress 
in science comes by tedious observation and 
comparison of Nature's laws and methods; 
and some things, even if not past finding 



152 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

out, certainly do not become readily 
apparent. 

The vital property sensibility, with some 
persons, may entertain expectancies of a 
degree that will develop sensational feelings. 
For instance, merely the idea that an emetic 
has been administered may produce nausea, 
and even sensational feelings, to an extent 
that will cause the function of instinct to 
exercise involuntary action. Extreme sen- 
sational irritability, local or general, may 
unbalance the function of sensibility to such 
an extent as to produce delirium and various 
other disturbances of this vital property. 
Thus in many cases of mental disturbance, 
where it is alleged that "the disease has 
gone to the brain," such condition is pro- 
duced by sensational irritability, and may 
frequently be cured by diminishing the cause 
of such irritability. High temperature of 
the blood may cause delirium ; also irrita- 
bility extending over large areas. Nor must 
we overlook the fact that extreme emotions 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 153 

experienced by the sensibility may so far 
modify the sensational function as to make 
favorable or unfavorable the numerous dis- 
turbances over which instinct presides. 
With some persons, in some forms of disease, 
mental influence constitutes a large factor 
of the disturbance, and may be made a large 
factor of the cure. Not only is it possible 
for each of those vital properties to modify 
the other, in association with the same 
individual, but the will-power of one person 
may modify the function of both sensation 
and sensibility in another person. This is 
illustrated in hypnotic influence, which may 
be carried to such a degree that an amputa- 
tion can be performed without pain, and 
even without consciousness. 

There are numerous complex operations 
that are explainable only upon the basis 
of the co-relation of the several active vital 
properties. But so long as this department 
of Nature remains in obscurity, many theo- 
ries will be adopted to explain such opera- 



154 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

tions which are untenable in their applica- 
tion. At the same time, such theories may 
remain acceptable and yet be as unscientific 
in their relation as the alleged and apparent 
Indian remedy for eclipse of the moon. Be- 
lieving that some animal was about to devour 
that satellite, the natives made a great noise 
to frighten the animal away ; and so far as 
appearances were concerned their theory of 
a remedy was well supported, and such inter- 
pretation was presumed to develop valuable 
facts for future guidance in the treatment of 
similar inflictions. The Indians were encour- 
aged to believe in the utility of such a 
remedy, while at the same time a very 
different principle of Nature was implied in 
the operation which really produced the 
result. The most gigantic modern parallel 
of this ancient superstition is illustrated in 
the doctrine of "active medical property," 
an imaginary alleged agency, supported by 
tons of literature in explanation of its utility, 
as a curative and restorative agency; an 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 155 

active principle and medical agency which is 
sold to the people with mingled praise and 
mystery, and which is alleged to act upon 
and to operate the organs of human life 
when scientifically harnessed with profound 
and unspeakable skill. 

The modern doctrines of Mind Cure, Men- 
tal Healing, and Christian Science are 
entitled to a candid consideration. There 
are no working principles in the latter which 
do not belong to the former, and reversely. 
Each is in error in its representation of the 
results claimed from such methods. The 
doctrine of mental healing has a limited 
and yet legitimate support in the theory 
underlying such method, while it has a 
larger apparent support than the nature of 
the operative principles will warrant. Thus 
the question arises, to what degree are such 
results, in other words cures, effected and 
explainable on the theories advanced in sup- 
port of such methods ? 

Functional diseases of every name and 



156 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

nature exist either as abnormal sensibilities, 
— diseases of the mind, — or as abnormal 
sensations, implied in sensational feelings 
and involuntary pathological vital actions. 
We must also recognize that no agency is 
operative with either the normal or abnormal 
functions of the living organism, except the 
vital agency. The mind agency is a vital 
agency ; but the involuntary vital-force agency 
is not a mind agency. Disease exists in 
both departments, voluntary and involun- 
tary; and sensation and sensibility have a 
limited relation of disturbance from each 
vital property, and also a limited relation 
in effecting a balance of normal function. 
Now to what extent are diseases amenable 
to the mind agency; and what diseases are 
implied and made operative by that vital 
force agency which is not a mind agency ? 
This is a larger department of nature than 
we care to give space for a full explanation 
of, while it is at the same time entitled to 
some general outline in association with the 
subject of this volume. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 157 

Notwithstanding that the theories advanced 
in support of mental healing are not directly 
applicable except with a limited and certain 
kind of ailment, the doctrine as a whole 
has a better hold on the nature of things, as 
a fundamental working principle, than the 
alleged agency of an "active medical prop- 
erty. " It does have a factor of appropriate 
relation as suggested, while the "active 
medical property " has none. The mind 
agency as a curative agency does apply 
directly in some instances, and indirectly in 
other instances. Many times the involuntary 
vital agency directed by instinct works 
out the problem of cure. Whatever theory 
may be advanced in explanation of a cure, 
the believers and advocates of such theory 
will point to their cures and say, "There 
is the proof of our theory ; there is the living 
evidence of the curative influence that has 
been operative. You cannot deny facts; 
facts are stubborn things. " But the " facts " 
associated with the Indian's remedy for a 



158 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

lunar eclipse not only did not refute his 
theory of remedial measures, but even gave 
it encouragement ; yet some other theory 
would explain such facts far more scien- 
tifically. It is unquestionably true that 
some persons do have a wonderful mental 
influence over certain other persons, but not 
over all persons to an equal degree. Such 
influence is directly operative only with 
a certain class of ailments, largely existing 
in the voluntary department. 

There are two classes of ailments to con- 
sider, — those superintended by the mind, and 
those presided over by instinct. The mind 
cannot directly guide the activities assigned 
to the function of instinct. The function of 
instinct is a reality, it is not imaginary; 
and to guide this function indirectly it is 
necessary to make appeal through the vital 
property sensation. The question then 
arises, To what extent can the mind produce 
sensations ? It can to a certain extent, but 
that extent is very limited. It is a well- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 159 

known fact that expectancy may induce 
nausea and vomiting; it may increase or 
diminish the sensation of pain to a certain 
degree when due to certain causes, but when 
due to other causes little or no modification 
can be effected except with a hypnotic 
subject. 

It is very difficult to comprehend how the 
mind can abolish those conditions which it 
cannot produce. The mind cannot produce 
pneumonia, nor scarlet fever, nor a score of 
other ailments; and when the mental influ- 
ence tackles such ailments with an apparent 
success, please remember the Indian remedy 
for eclipse. There are different active vital 
principles implied in such cures wholly un- 
like mind influence. The mind may exer- 
cise a powerful influence for good or for evil 
in a great variety of ailments. The mind 
may use up vital energy in worry sufficient 
to prolong the ailment and even to cause 
death, in both the voluntary and involuntary 
departments. It is true also that the men- 



160 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

tal influence of the patient often constitutes 
the pivotal influence which may favor a cure 
or cause death ; it is an influence, frequently 
of pivotal significance, not duly appreciated. 
Thus it is very important for the attending 
physician, or "healer," to maintain suffi- 
cient control of the hopeful expectancies of 
his patient to afford the best opportunity for 
recovery. 

It is important, however, to recognize that 
mind and matter do not constitute the sum 
total of a human organism. The mind prop- 
erty is but one of four vital properties which 
exercise functions in the affairs of life. The 
mind cure, or mental healing, as a theory, 
like medical theories, is defective; and while 
frequently fruitful of great practical benefits, 
all such theories have developed ideal incon- 
gruities of nature that may be of profit to 
review. 

It is alleged that pain is not real, only 
imaginary; that disease exists only in the 
mind ; that both pain and disease are factors 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 161 

of mind, to be removed at will: thus that 
one has only to think strongly that one is 
sick or well, and the job is done. It is true 
that in the voluntary department of life 
affairs this theory may apply very correctly, 
but not in the involuntary. The mind cannot 
will away pneumonia ; some other principle 
is operative here, and it must have its time. 
The doctrine that disease is imaginary, like 
the doctrine of "active medical properties," 
has secured a foothold in the popular belief; 
and this kind of erroneous interpretation 
has grown out of the fact that no recognition 
has been developed of the nature of vital 
force, or of distinction of functions of the 
several ultimate vital properties. 

Medical text-books and lexicons fail to 
outline the difference between sensation and 
sensibility, — those vital properties being 
regarded, so far as text-book authority con- 
tributes testimony, as each being a part of 
the other. Now, sensation has an innumer- 
able variety of factors; in other words, 
11 



162 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

there are different kinds of sensation, among 
which are taste, smell, itching, and pain. 
Sensibility also has a multiplicity of factors 
that make up the total of that vital property, 
— emotions of grief, joy, anger, hope, mirth, 
and reason. Many of the factors of sensi- 
bility may be experienced and abolished at 
will ; but pain, being a factor and variety of 
sensation, cannot be abolished at will. Dis- 
ease, manifested wholly by the involuntary 
department, cannot be abolished at will, or 
cured by mind influence ; though such disease 
may have some of its disagreeable associations 
modified by mind influence. Involuntary 
vital power may be guided and controlled to 
a limited degree by the production of sensa- 
tions from material contacts, — that being 
the only means at command which will 
cause instinct to operate the involuntary 
vital force as desired. 

The human mind requires to be broadened 
sufficiently to recognize that the human 
organism is a more complex creation than 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 163 

can be represented through mind and matter; 
also that it has active vital properties in 
common with animal life, — so low down in 
some cases as to have little or no vital prop- 
erty of sensibility; that is, no brain. The 
complexity of a human organism in its variety 
of functions is of wonderful extent. Not 
only are the ultimate vital properties unlike 
and distinct, but each has factors that make 
up its whole, of great diversity of function. 
There are many kinds of tastes and smells 
and sensational feelings, agreeable and dis- 
agreeable; many kinds of sensational hap- 
piness, of misery and pain. Sensibility 
is made up of numerous different factors. 
Grief is not like joy; sadness is not like 
hope; and the will power is not like intel- 
lectual power. Pain is as real as intelligence, 
while some people are capable of experienc- 
ing more of the former than of the latter. 
Distress of mind may disturb the functions 
of other vital properties, while irritability of 
sensation may unbalance the mind. 



164 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

In alleged mental healing the result is not 
all due to mental influence. There are laws 
of involuntary organic operations — con- 
structive, preservative, and restorative — 
which to effect, the mind must arrange certain 
conditions for a successful execution, as 
would be required for the production of a 
field of corn. The mental part is frequently 
more in the arranging than in the doing. 
The medical healers and mental healers have 
thus far failed to recognize the functions and 
operative laws through which the vital prop- 
erties exercise their activities in the affairs 
of human life, and thus have failed to take 
ad antage of opportunities that are continu- 
ally being presented. In consequence thou- 
sands of deaths occur annually that might 
have been prevented. The improper use of 
medicine is undermining the national health 
of the people to a degree far more seri- 
ous than that effected by alcoholic spirit 
drinking. 

In summing up the ideal situation of this 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 165 

department of Nature as it exists to-day, 
there are two leading expectancies which we 
find to predominate. One is the expectancy 
of great beneficial results from the proper 
application of an alleged medical agency, — 
the " active medical property " The other is 
an expectancy of a mental power that may 
accomplish a multiplicity of innumerable 
operations with the organic body, which are 
really, executed by an entirely different 
agency. Thus the real agency which exe- 
cutes the alleged medical operations, and a 
very large per cent of the alleged mental 
cures, — the involuntary vital force, — is not 
recognized and given credit for its operative 
function in Nature. And it is also alleged 
that the nature of this vital force constitutes 
a problem which must await the advent of 
future generations for a solution. There- 
fore, little or nothing of practical importance 
appears in medical literature relative to this 
department of involuntary living agency, 
which would require volumes to elucidate 



166 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

in its application to the various forms of 
disease. 

There are many forms of acute self-limited 
disease which will be cured in accordance 
with the laws of involuntary functions com- 
mitted to the custody of instinct. All kinds 
of u healers " are likely to take advantage of 
this fact, and will, unconscious of the prin- 
ciple involved, point to such cures in support 
of the theory and method they have adopted. 
Many who claim the discovery of wonderful 
curative agencies barricade themselves behind 
the statement, that, while they may not be 
able to prove that such alleged agency exists, 
no one can prove that it does not exist. 
There is much logic in this statement, and 
it too frequently represents the precise situ- 
ation. Consequently, no educational author- 
ity can expose such frauds with success; 
and numerous medical and curative systems 
are invented and become acceptable, while 
Nature has supplied but one code of laws for 
disease and the relations thereto of medicine. 



PNEUMONIA, 

\ T 7E select this form of disease to illus- 
trate the application of the theory 
of Vital Force, not because it is more suit- 
able for that purpose, but because it affords a 
greater diversity of applied principles. 

Starting with the recognition that an 
abnormal sensation must precede every form 
of disease, the question arises, What consti- 
tutes the causes of abnormal sensation in 
pneumonia, both primary and secondary ? 
Among the varied primary causes we men- 
tion, first, that frequent cause implied in a 
mechanical pressure of blood on the lungs, 
together with the accumulation of more or 
less effete material which should be elim- 
inated through the skin, — a condition of 



168 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

unbalanced circulation frequently caused by 
insufficient clothing for the protection of the 
body. A great variety of other primary 
causes may exist, such as inhaled irritant 
material, — vapors, and extreme cold air; 
also the presence of poisonous soluble patho- 
logical products of previous diseases that are 
being eliminated through the lungs, consti- 
tuting primary causes of an abnormal 
sensation. 

Succeeding any one of the primary causes 
of disease, there is soon a larger quantity of 
blood in the lung tissues, in association also 
with an increased temperature of the blood, 
constituting a secondary cause of great sig- 
nificance, — a congestion and temperature 
producing an abnormal sensation to a degree 
of more or less pain. The primary cause, 
whatever it may be, constitutes but a small 
factor of causation for the development of 
pneumonia. Many times the primary cause 
may exist for a period without disturbing the 
circulation of the blood sufficient for the 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 169 

production of the secondary cause. It is 
the nature of instinct to send a larger quan- 
tity of blood to any part where an abnormal 
sensation, or irritability, is made to prevail; 
thus in a brief time secondary causes are 
made to exist of serious relations. 

Every case of pneumonia would certainly 
prove fatal, in accordance with the nature 
and laws of the active ultimate vital proper- 
ties, were there not provided a principle 
which we have called "toleration," and which 
we have explained in a previous chapter. 
One lung, or a part of one lung, may be thus 
disturbed without involving all the lung 
tissues ; as is illustrated in superficial inflam- 
mation which does not include all adjacent 
tissues. It is not possible to have pneumonia 
without an excess of blood in the lung struc- 
tures ; and death ensues because the quantity 
of blood, together with subsequent patholog- 
ical changes, mechanically diminishes the air 
space to a capacity insufficient for respira- 
tion. This condition can be made to exist 



170 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

with a strong and vigorous person in forty- 
eight hours, while with a less vigorous con- 
stitution from six to eight days may be 
required to effect the same condition from 
congestion and infiltration. 

The first change from a normal condition 
which takes place in the lungs exists as an 
abnormal sensation, brought about by some 
of the already mentioned, or similar, pri- 
mary causes. Instinct sends a larger volume 
of blood to the lungs in consequence of the 
irritability which we call abnormal sensation. 
The excess of blood in those organs, and 
the consequent pathological action, develop 
continued secondary causes, — high tempera- 
ture of the blood in most cases being the 
greater secondary cause which occasions in- 
stinct to continue sending an excess of blood 
to the parts, constituting that condition 
called inflammation. Thus far, this conges- 
tion and inflammation are made to exist 
in accordance with the nature and laws of 
the active vital properties; and we repeat 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 171 

that every case of pneumonia would prove 
fatal, did not that self-preservative principle 
called " toleration " become effective, which 
makes possible that discontinuance of path- 
ological vital action implied in self-limited 
disease. 

The important feature of treatment in 
such cases consists in the early reduction 
of the quantity of blood in the lung tissues, 
— not by blood-letting, but by diminishing 
the secondary cause, heat, which, if allowed 
to exist, produces an irritability that will be 
a continued cause for instinct to send a 
dangerous quantity of blood to those organs. 
Diminish the quantity of blood, by reduc- 
ing the temperature cause of disturbance 
of pathological vital action, and thus allow 
sufficient air space to be maintained until 
toleration is established. There is no occa- 
sion to treat primary causes, even were it 
possible, but only secondary causes. Exces- 
sive temperature is the greatest and most 
approachable cause to be treated. The 



172 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

nerves of the lung tissues easily take on 
irritability, — a condition that may exist 
unrecognized by the consciousness, yet hav- 
ing serious relations to instinct. Thus the 
feelings of the patient are not to be relied 
upon to determine the severity of existing 
causes and conditions. The nearer the 
approach of normal quantity of blood in the 
lung tissues, the less severe the pneumonia; 
the nearer that the temperature of the blood 
is kept to normal, the less cause exists for 
disturbing the circulation. It is not wise or 
prudent to try to keep the blood at a normal 
temperature, but to diminish it several 
degrees, more or less, from its maximum 
degree of disturbance. 

The practical effect between diminishing 
the quantity of blood in the lung tissues by 
blood-letting and lowering of total vital 
energies by antiphlogistic medication, and 
that of diminishing the secondary cause, 
heat, to effect a more nearly balanced circu- 
lation, is of great importance to the patient. 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 173 

This difference is often one of life or death, 
depending on the method adopted. The best 
method is to reduce the temperature by 
conduction, which is always subject to imme- 
diate control. Envelop the patient in a wet- 
sheet pack of varying degrees of temperature, 
according to the severity of existing abnor- 
mal heat. It may be sufficient to envelop the 
chest with towels wet in cool water, changing 
every twenty minutes for many hours, some- 
times for an entire day, until the tempera- 
ture is lowered several degrees; and thus 
keep it reduced for several days from the 
beginning of the disturbance. The fever 
thermometer should be used frequently to 
determine the result of the treatment. A 
temperature of 104 to 106 degrees demands 
prompt attention. Do not be afraid of cold 
water about the chest — but not the extrem- 
ities — with such temperatures. Do not 
apply such a degree of cold over large sur- 
faces as to produce a shock of the nervous 
system. Do not be too heroic in degrees of 



174 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

cold, but change the appliance more fre- 
quently with a milder temperature. 

The diminishing of temperature by conduc- 
tion, in association with opiates, to make 
more tolerant the cause of abnormal sensa- 
tion, constitutes the most reliable treatment 
for severe pneumonia as presented by the 
sthenic, robust individual. Give the patient 
an abundance of cool water, supply the best 
air for respiration, and be sparing of food 
for the first forty-eight hours. 

There are many mild cases of pneumonia 
that would recover under almost any let- 
alone treatment ; and with such cases, much 
credit is liable to be given to that method 
of treatment which would be of little or no 
benefit in severe cases. It is not possible to 
cure every case of pneumonia, but fifty per 
cent of those robust persons who die without 
this treatment would be saved by its early 
application. It is the early treatment 
which saves, which converts a would-be 
severe case into one of milder relations. 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 175 

The strong, vigorous person is in more 
danger, because his vital strength can send 
more blood to the lungs. It would be well 
for every household to be the possessor of a 
thermometer, and to know the meaning of a 
high temperature of the blood, and how safely 
to reduce it, regardless of what form of dis- 
ease might be expectant. 

With pneumonia, the secondary causes of 
severe disturbance — heat and irritability — 
must be made less; while with other kinds 
of disease different secondary causes demand 
leading attention. In the case of scarlet fever 
and measles there exists one secondary 
cause — heat — to be reduced ; while that 
abundant secondary cause of irritability, 
existing as a poisonous pathological product, 
must be eliminated. To try to make such 
cause tolerant would be fatal. 

The distinction of the relation of cause 
between a common cold and pneumonia is but 
a difference of degree. A " common cold," 
so called, is caused by a similar disturbance 



176 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

of superficial circulation of the blood, occa- 
sioning an abnormal sensation of the mucous 
membranes. A degree of irritability is thus 
made to exist only sufficient to cause a local 
disturbance, with little or no perceptible 
disturbance of the heart's action; while 
with pneumonia the degree of irritability is 
sufficient to disturb the whole system, and 
occasion the production of a special in- 
creased action of the heart, sending an 
excess of blood to the region of irritation, 
developing inflammation. The same prin- 
ciple is operative on the external surface, 
where cause may exist for either irritability 
or for inflammation. 

We repeat, that the causes of disturbance 
have no influence, do not act, but exist as 
passive causes, which occasion pathological 
vital action to develop. Medicine has no 
" active medical property ; " it is passive, and 
a cause for a different vital act. There is 
no medical agency that can do duty in sub- 
stitution for vital force; but medicine may 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 177 

be made useful to modify conditions, and 
to cause sensation to be more tolerant. It 
may be used to produce a sensation which 
will occasion the deployment of vital activity 
for the execution of such act as may seem 
wise to have established. 

The theory of the Science of Vital Force 
fits every form of disease equally as well as 
it does pneumonia; and each form as well 
as severity of unlike disease has special 
features entitled to consideration, which 
could not be illustrated except in association 
with a description of such disease. Vital 
force acts in relation to nutrient material with 
normal surroundings, and produces health. 
Vital force acts in relation to non-nutrient 
material and abnormal surroundings, and 
produces disease. 

The relation of medicine to the human 
organism is represented in two distinct 
divisions. In one division its relation con- 
sists in the production of a sensation from 

contact, without disturbance and develop- 
12 



178 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

ment of pathological vital action. There 
are different kinds of sensations innumer- 
able. The other division is implied in the 
production of sensations that are succeeded 
by pathological vital actions directed by 
instinct. This action is usually called "the 
action of the medicine." The different kinds 
of pathological action are also innumerable. 
Thus, in brief, we legitimately use medi- 
cine either to produce and modify sensations, 
or to develop pathological vital actions. 
Certain causes of disease produce abnormal 
sensations more or less disagreeable, without 
development of pathological actions, which 
constitute one form of disease. Certain other 
causes also produce abnormal sensations that 
are succeeded by pathological vital actions 
directed by instinct, which actions do con- 
stitute active disease. Functional disease is 
pathological vital action; and the active 
effects from medicinal relations constitute a 
similar representation of an involuntary 
active vital principle. 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 179 

In the disease called " pneumonia " there 
is no occasion to give medicines to deploy 
and develop pathological actions, but only to 
modify sensations for the purpose of dimin- 
ishing pathological vital actions. 



XI. 

MISCELLANEOUS PARAGRAPHS. 

Science. The uplifting of astronomical 
science from its crude associations was 
effected by a recognition of the true centre 
of the solar system; and with the depart- 
ment of medical science there are accepted 
theories and fallacious ideas to be elimin- 
ated, as well as a recognition to be obtained 
of a different plan, implied in the four ulti- 
mate active vital properties of human life 
functions and their co-operative relations. 

Little or no progress can be made in estab- 
lishing fundamental principles on which a 
scientific practice of medicine may be predi- 
cated, essential both to intellectual pride 
and a more successful result, until all beliefs 
and ideas are eliminated of an existing 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 181 

agency in Nature called "active medical 
property," implied in an active principle 
alleged to be stored away in roots, barks, 
and minerals, which is said to act on the 
organs of human life. This accepted idea, 
now taught and perpetuated, is as crude and 
void of all representation of a fact or prin- 
ciple in Nature as the doctrine of a flat earth 
and the ancient ideal centre of the solar 
system. 

In calling attention to the Science of Vital 
Force, and to the necessary revolution of 
ideas following upon it, there is presented 
a subject never paralleled in importance in 
all the events of civilization and the devel- 
opment of a science. In association with 
such a revolution in the department of 
astronomical science, history is responsible 
for the statement that the human mind had 
so little ability to exercise rational thought 
that it required more than a century to 
eliminate the crude ideas of the old tradi- 
tional system, even after public attention was 



182 THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 

called to its monstrous delusions. So also 
it may not be unreasonable to expect that 
some minds will prove to be so fixed by 
previous education, so inflexible and inca- 
pable of progress, that it will not be possible 
for them to unlearn the ideal fallacies of 
medical teaching that have stamped their 
impress upon the public mind by the aid of 
those authorities whose business it is sup- 
posed to be to transmit wisdom. But in the 
recognition and development of the Science 
of Vital Force, Nature must be accepted as 
the highest authority. 

Organic disease. In previous pages, fre- 
quent mention has been made of abnormal 
sensation and pathological vital actions; 
and with organic disease, the phrase abnor- 
mal construction is appropriate in represen- 
tation of the displacement of normal cell 
structure by a malignant cell growth. 

Functional disease is pathological vital 
action, and pathological vital action in the 
affairs of cell structure may develop malig- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 183 

nant growth. Thus there may exist patho- 
logical vital action which is not implied in 
cell construction, while at other times such 
perversion of activity may become manifest 
only in abnormal cell construction. When 
seeking to comprehend the cause of such 
formation, it is necessary to invoke the aid 
of the several functions of vital properties. 

In the formation of normal cell structure 
there is implied a surrounding condition of 
normal sensation ; while in the construction 
of malignant growth there evidently prevails 
a condition of abnormal sensation, — a con- 
dition of local irritation of a period of shorter 
or longer duration. Thus in looking for a 
cause, we cannot go behind the relative differ- 
ence between normal and abnormal sensation, 
— the local irritation alone being the modify- 
ing influence causing the construction of 
malignant cells in place of normal cell 
structure. Why a local irritation, which is 
of frequent existence, may sometimes be 
followed by such change of cell structure 



184 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

and not at other times is a problem difficult 
to solve. It is difficult to explain fully why 
a certain cause of disease at one time may 
not produce disease every time and with 
every person, — although such explanation, 
if possible, would not be implied in the 
nature and relation of the cause, but in 
some existing condition of the individual.- 

The theory we present of active vital force 
based on the functions of the several vital 
properties, as well as the facts of common 
recognition, contributes support and evi- 
dence to the fact that malignant growth may 
succeed to known conditions of local irrita- 
bility, — as may be illustrated in cancer of 
the mouth from irritable gums, produced by 
incrustations and decayed teeth. It is 
alleged by high authority that a mechanical 
injury from a blow has been succeeded by 
malignant growth. Sometimes in organic 
disease of the liver and kidneys succeeding 
long-continued existing local disturbance, 
occasioned by the presence of alcoholic spirit 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 185 

in near proximity to cell structure, there is 
illustrated the same principle and relation of 
cause. Thus we might say that the normal 
cell growth is handicapped by the presence 
of such material, and that in place of normal 
sensation there exists a local irritation, con- 
stituting the modified surroundings which 
favor, in place of normal cell growth, that 
modification of cell structure implied in 
organic disease. The cause of disease does 
not act; it only causes an abnormal sensation, 
which perverts vital action. 

In the studious research to connect the 
"germ theory of disease " with cancerous 
growth, there has been discovered in some 
instances a protozoic parasite; and a distin- 
guished writer thus states : " It seems difficult 
to grasp how the chronic irritation or the 
toxic influence of a parasite can produce, 
for instance, a cancer." There is no "toxic 
influence," but only a toxic relation. The 
"toxic influence" is an ideal outgrowth 
from the erroneous doctrine implied in the 



186 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

accepted theory that causes act The mate- 
rial of toxic contact relation disturbs the 
instinctive influence; abnormal sensation is 
produced, and instinct constructs a patho- 
logical cell growth, — malignant structure. 
So far as the parasite is concerned, we 
assume that this alleged " germ " took up 
its abode in that region after irritability was 
established, and perhaps after malignant 
cells began to form. Even be it otherwise, 
the relation of such parasite could be of no 
different kind than as a cause of abnormal 
sensation. Sensation, normal or abnormal, 
is the first language of life, from the contact 
relation of the external world to a living 
human organism. 

Alcoholic stimulation. Alcoholic spirit 
consumption, both as a beverage and for 
medicinal use, is a custom encouraged by a 
certain kind of scientific education, and 
confirmed by the temporary experience of 
"feeling better." All the pleasures of life 
are experienced through the vital properties 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 187 

sensation and sensibility; and the fact that 
alcoholic spirit may occasion a more agree- 
able sensation, in substitute for such disa- 
greeable sensations. as weariness and hunger, 
— thus effecting a swapping of sensations, 
which has been given the interpretation of a 
contribution of energy, — constitutes the 
great educational influence for the adoption 
of this practice. There also exists the testi- 
mony of high medical authority, as well as 
the influence of the object lessons of practice, 
that alcoholic stimulation is implied in the 
alleged action of the " active medical prop- 
erty " of the alcoholic spirit, acting as a tem- 
porary substitute for vital energy. If such 
stimulation were really a temporary supply 
of energy, as alleged by medical authority, 
alcoholic spirit would be a very useful article 
of consumption; but such is not the fact. 
If the swapping of sensations were truly 
scientific evidence of supplied strength, alco- 
holic spirit would be a household remedy of 
great utility; but such is not the fact. 



188 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

Neither the swapping of sensations nor stim- 
ulation constitutes a contribution of energy. 
Stimulation is not the exercise of an " active 
medical principle," but an expenditure of 
vital energy, — a differently deployed vital 
action, holding the same relation to the 
involuntary vital action that the whip holds 
to the voluntary. 

The alcoholic spirit question is a larger 
subject with which to contend than has been 
recognized by the most zealous workers in 
the field of reform. The alcoholic infliction 
of misery is not a sequence of human de- 
pravity, but of a false scientific culture. 
The worst foe of the temperance cause un- 
consciously exists in the acceptance of erro- 
neous medical doctrines, and in the inability 
to distinguish an occasioned agreeable sensa- 
tion from a contribution of strength. Should 
the workers in the temperance cause expend 
a part of their energies and money in the 
development of a new education, it would 
contribute a hundred fold more to the success 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 189 

of the reform than the effort of applied legis- 
lative coercion to overcome an unconscious 
educational influence. Public sentiment is 
wrong. Public sentiment, however, is not 
a spontaneous outgrowth, but dependent on 
education ; it is what the people make it on 
an educational basis. It is an all-powerful 
influence for the right or the wrong, as the 
case may be. The evils of alcoholic spirit 
drinking cause its practice to be condemned, 
while the culture for the persuasion of such 
practice is allowed to be perpetuated, — 
which balances the opposing influence, as 
the statistics of consumption demonstrate. 
The practice is allowed, because it is sus- 
tained by medical authority, — an authority 
not prudent to deny, without a reserve corps 
of natural fundamental principles at com- 
mand for support. If the temperance workers 
are in earnest, they should make it known 
that science is the natural ally of temper- 
ance, and not the persuader of the use of 
alcoholic spirit as a vehicle of "active medi- 
cal orooerty." 



190 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

The medical profession. Who shall prac- 
tise medicine ? Who shall treat the sick and 
superintend the management of disease ? 

This is a difficult question to adjust on the 
basis of ability and satisfaction to all par- 
ties ; and it is a very much discussed ques- 
tion at the present time. We must recog- 
nize that all people have rights, while a 
lesser number have abilities. It would seem, 
however, that this question must ultimately 
be settled on the same basis as is implied in 
the question of who should be allowed to 
make astronomical calculations, and who 
should be allowed to make a chemical analy- 
sis of the contents of a human stomach. So 
long as medical science remains acceptable 
in its present crude state of imaginary funda- 
mental principles, there is no authority that 
can demonstrate where to draw the line and 
determine on which side exists capability, 
and on which side exists uncapability, to pre- 
scribe for and to manage disease. So long 
as the real fundamental principles of this 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 191 

department are allowed to remain in obscur- 
ity, and success is hoped for through the 
agency of some wonderful medical power, 
which is as liable to be discovered by an 
ignoramus and mere speculator as by a cul- 
tured physician, this will be a difficult ques- 
tion to settle. So long as "active medical 
properties " rather than active mental abili- 
ties are recognized and presumed to be of 
the greatest utility, this subject will con- 
tinue to be agitated. So long as the people 
believe that a medicine can act and exercise 
activity with the organs of life, and remain 
uneducated relative to the nature and func- 
tions of the unlike ultimate vital agencies 
and the required guidance of such agency 
in the affairs of disease, the judgment of 
such ability will be subject to the whims of 
ignorance. An ignoramus and speculator 
in human misfortunes, when giving placeboes 
for a self-limited disease which is sure to 
get well if let alone, is liable to be credited 
with as much skill, erudition, and ability 
as the cultured physician. 



192 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

The fundamental premises of this subject 
exist as a blank in the minds of the people, 
which allows them to be unconsciously 
imposed upon to a degree of criminality and 
the sacrifice of life. There are no recog- 
nized fundamental principles of educational 
acquirement that are accepted as a superior 
qualification for professional practice. Every 
school of medicine and treatment has a set 
of alleged fundamental principles of conven- 
tional adoption, while Nature has provided 
but one code of laws and principles that are 
operative in the affairs of disease. As there 
is but one science of astronomy and one 
science of chemistry, so there is but one 
science of medicine. When the people are 
educated to understand the nature of the 
premises on which a scientific treatment 
and practice of medicine is based, it would 
be a very ignorant invalid, surrounded by 
ignorant advisers, who would permit an 
alleged physician to attempt the guidance 
of his involuntary vital force in conditions 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 193 

of disease who was not well educated in the 
science of this department of Nature. There 
are provided principles and operative laws 
for a more successful treatment and practice 
of medicine not yet recognized and taught 
for the benefit of a civilized people; and 
when this department is understood, the 
medical profession will occupy a much higher 
position both in reality and in the judgment 
of the people, — a position of greater utility 
to individual and national prosperity than 
has ever been achieved through any depart- 
ment of scholastic attainment. 

Conclusion. We are aware that the theory 
of the Science of Vital Force has been pre- 
sented in these pages with much assurance ; 
but it is an assurance born of the conviction 
that these operative fundamental principles 
will stand the test of severe criticism, being 
based on the living laws of this department 
of Nature, and capable of demonstration in 
verified phenomena presented in the human 

organism. 

13 



194 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

The practical utility of this science tran- 
scends all other departments of accumulated 
wisdom in its applicability to the preserva- 
tion of human life and recovery from disease, 
enabling us to adopt measures for the saving 
of human life at present unrecognized. It 
affords protection against the infatuation of 
the alcoholic delusion of expectancy, and 
merits the attention of earnest workers in 
temperance reform as the most powerful ally 
for the development of a higher public senti- 
ment, based on scientific achievements. It 
illustrates that ignorance, not depravity, is 
responsible for the alcoholic infliction which 
has come upon a civilized people. It enables 
demonstrated science to become an ally of 
temperance reform, while at the present 
time alleged science is the worst unconscious 
enemy of the temperance movement. 

Statesmen allege that the temperance ques- 
tion is the greatest national question before 
the people of this generation ; but we affirm 
that the Science of Vital Force is much the 



THE SCIENCE OP VITAL FORCE. 195 

larger subject, for it includes and furnishes 
a solution for the former, which is implied 
in that enigmatical paradox where two unlike 
educations on the subject prevail at the same 
time, — one persuading to the use of alco- 
holic spirit for the benefit of its expectant 
active principle of temporary energy, while 
the other persuades to its abolishment on the 
records of its practical effects. When the 
utility and advantages of this science become 
recognized, it will be important to have 
elementary text-books prepared for use in 
common schools, from which a general out- 
line of the subject may be taught in associa- 
tion with the temperance education so much 
needed, — a subject no more profound than 
the general principles on which the science 
of astronomy is based, and certainly of 
greater practical benefit. There should also 
be prepared a temperance edition for the 
development of a higher educational standard 
of public sentiment, including a household 
department of instruction, contributing in- 



196 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

formation for the preservation of health and 
the management of disease pending the arri- 
val of a physician, who would be required to 
be familiar with this department of science 
before his services would become acceptable 
to a cultured people. 

The time is coming in the near future 
when it will be considered necessary for the 
public good that each State supply, or pro- 
vide at cost, such a book of instruction for 
every family; for the prosperity of our coun- 
try is dependent on educational development. 
There exists an opportunity unprecedented 
in this direction for the labors of some phi- 
lanthropic association to develop such com- 
mendable innovation in the interests of 
humanity and a better civilization. When 
the ideal centre of the solar system was 
changed, astronomical literature required 
to be rewritten; and it is of much greater 
importance in this department relating to 
temperance, the preservation of health, and 
recovery from disease. Physicians' text- 



THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 197 

books on theory and practice will require 
to be rewritten, illustrating the advan- 
tages of the applied science of vital force 
in guiding the treatment of disease; and 
the day is not far distant when every medi- 
cal school will have an instructor in this 
department. 

The nature of this subject forbids all 
rivalry of claim for superiority of advantage 
in any particular pathy. There is but one 
science of disease and relation of medicine. 
Every practitioner, prescriber, superinten- 
dent, and general manager of diseased con- 
ditions should have an education sufficiently 
broad to take in the whole system. The 
emergency of the situation requires that the 
nature, management, and treatment of dis- 
ease shall be presented in a new form and 
upon a different basis, — the basis of demon- 
strated fundamental principles implied in the 
science of vital force. No branch of scien- 
tific education exists to-day in such a deplor- 
able and dangerous situation for practical 




198 THE SCIENCE OF VITAL FORCE. 

appliance as the department of alleged med- 
ical science. 

The accepted doctrine of " active medical 
properties" is as fallacious as the ancient 
ideal centre of the solar system, while, prac- 
tically, the application of this imaginary ac- 
tive principle is destroying many thousands 
of human lives annually. There is not an 
intelligent person among civilized nations 
who will compare the phenomena presented 
by the human organism with the alleged 
science of vital force without adopting a 
similar conclusion. And the intelligent peo- 
ple of this generation who are liable to be- 
come victims of this dangerous delusion, 
cannot afford to extend the mistaken cour- 
tesy of silence relative to this alleged de- 
partment of nature, but should immediately 
demand for individual and national protec- 
tion a higher standard of medical culture. 

THE END. 



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